Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Knoxville, TN
🏆 Knoxville leads 14 of 22 categories
Joliet
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
150,221
Knoxville
Tennessee
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,309
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
191,857 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Households earn $36,662 more per year on average
53% less violent crime than Knoxville
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.8%)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Knoxville
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Knoxville, TN
Pros
Homes cost $50k less ($184,200 vs $233,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Rent averages $131/mo less ($1,043 vs $1,174)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 31°F
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $36,662/yr
Violent crime (740.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2721.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Median Income
$36,662
$84,971 vs $48,309/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
53% lower
350.0 vs 740.3 per 100k
Knoxville
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Knoxville
Median Home Value
$50k less
$184,200 vs $233,800
Knoxville
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.2% unemployment
Knoxville
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 88.3°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Knoxville, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 | $184,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 | $1,043 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 ✓ Higher | $48,309 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 20.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 9.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 90.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | Knox County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 47.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 88.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" ✓ Drier | 55.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 4.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 | 191,857 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.3 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 46.2% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Knoxville's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Knoxville is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Knoxville leads 14 of 22 categories. Joliet wins 8 and Knoxville wins 14. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Joliet to Knoxville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $184,200 median home), income ($84,971 vs $48,309), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Knoxville, TN are about 445 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.