Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Lynn, MA
🏆 Joliet leads 16 of 23 categories
Joliet
Illinois
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
150,221 ✓ Larger
Lynn
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$70,046
Violent Crime Index
151⚠ High
Population
100,653
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $209k less ($233,800 vs $442,800)
39% less violent crime than Lynn
Rent averages $337/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,511)
Households earn $14,925 more per year on average
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Lynn
More college-educated — 24.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Lynn, MA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 36°F vs 31°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $442,800
Violent crime (574.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,511/mo
Median income trails Joliet by $14,925/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Median Income
$14,925
$84,971 vs $70,046/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
39% lower
350.0 vs 574.6 per 100k
Joliet
Median Home Value
$209k less
$233,800 vs $442,800
Joliet
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 83.6°F vs 80.3°F
Lynn
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Lynn, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 ✓ Lower | $442,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $1,511⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 ✓ Higher | $70,046 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 113⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 21.9% |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% ✓ Higher | 77.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | Lynn |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 36.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" ✓ Drier | 47.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" ✓ Less | 39.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 ✓ Larger | 100,653 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 48.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 24.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 13.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Lynn's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Joliet leads 16 of 23 categories. Joliet wins 16 and Lynn wins 7. 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 Lynn or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $442,800 median home), income ($84,971 vs $70,046), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Lynn, MA are about 883 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.