Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Menifee, CA
🏆 Menifee leads 13 of 23 categories
Joliet
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$84,971
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
150,221 ✓ Larger
Menifee
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$87,871 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
103,680
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 $442,600)
Rent averages $772/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,946)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (6.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 97°F
More college-educated — 24.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Menifee by $2,900/yr
Menifee, CA
Pros
48% less violent crime than Joliet
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.8 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 31°F
Households earn $2,900 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $442,600
Higher rents — median is $1,946/mo
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 6.2%)
Longer commutes — 42.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Median Home Value
$209k less
$233,800 vs $442,600
Joliet
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.1% unemployment
Menifee
Median Income
$2,900
$87,871 vs $84,971/yr
Menifee
Violent Crime
48% lower
182.8 vs 350.0 per 100k
Menifee
Summer Heat
12.9°F warmer
July avg high 96.5°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Menifee, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 ✓ Lower | $442,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $1,946⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 | $87,871 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 42.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 10.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 | 44 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 | 38 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C- (64) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 20.8% |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 87.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | Menifee Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 65.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 96.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 ✓ Larger | 103,680 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 37.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% | 80.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 25.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 17.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Menifee's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Menifee leads 13 of 23 categories. Joliet wins 10 and Menifee 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 Menifee or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $442,600 median home), income ($84,971 vs $87,871), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Menifee, CA are about 1,670 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.