Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Lafayette, LA
🏆 Lafayette leads 13 of 23 categories
Joliet
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
150,221 ✓ Larger
Lafayette
Louisiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
67% less violent crime than Lafayette
Households earn $26,121 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Lafayette
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Lafayette, LA
Pros
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 31°F
Rent averages $152/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,174)
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $26,121/yr
Violent crime (1066.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4347.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Median Income
$26,121
$84,971 vs $58,850/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
67% lower
350.0 vs 1066.1 per 100k
Lafayette
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Lafayette, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 ✓ Lower | $234,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 | $1,022 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 ✓ Higher | $58,850 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 251⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 207⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 40.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | Lafayette Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" ✓ Drier | 64.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 ✓ Larger | 121,706 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Lafayette's 87.0 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 13 of 23 categories. Joliet wins 10 and Lafayette wins 13. 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 Lafayette or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $234,900 median home), income ($84,971 vs $58,850), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Lafayette, LA are about 811 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.