Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Laredo, TX
🏆 Joliet leads 12 of 23 categories
Joliet
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
150,221
Laredo
Texas
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,928
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
255,293 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Households earn $24,043 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 100°F
More college-educated — 24.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Laredo
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Laredo, TX
Pros
Homes cost $69k less ($164,400 vs $233,800)
Rent averages $206/mo less ($968 vs $1,174)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 31°F
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.8)
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $24,043/yr
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Median Income
$24,043
$84,971 vs $60,928/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
4% lower
350.0 vs 365.8 per 100k
Laredo
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 87.8 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Laredo
Median Home Value
$69k less
$164,400 vs $233,800
Laredo
Summer Heat
16.7°F warmer
July avg high 100.3°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Laredo, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 87.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 | $164,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 | $968 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 ✓ Higher | $60,928 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 86 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 96 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 70 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 21.1% |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% ✓ Higher | 69.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | UNITED ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 68.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 100.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" | 19.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 | 255,293 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.3 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 62.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | 31.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.2% ✓ More | 9.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Laredo's 87.8 (US average = 100).
Laredo is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Joliet leads 12 of 23 categories. Joliet wins 12 and Laredo wins 11. 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 Laredo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $164,400 median home), income ($84,971 vs $60,928), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Laredo, TX are about 1,158 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.