Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Metairie, LA
🏆 Metairie 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
Metairie
Louisiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,070
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
140,046
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
10% less violent crime than Metairie
Homes cost $56k less ($233,800 vs $289,800)
Households earn $12,901 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Metairie
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.3%)
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Metairie, LA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.3%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 31°F
More college-educated — 39.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.1)
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $12,901/yr
Property crime (2629.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Median Income
$12,901
$84,971 vs $72,070/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
10% lower
350.0 vs 390.1 per 100k
Joliet
Median Home Value
$56k less
$233,800 vs $289,800
Metairie
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 91.1 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Metairie
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.2% unemployment
Metairie
Summer Heat
7.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Metairie, LA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 91.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 ✓ Lower | $289,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 | $1,120 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 ✓ Higher | $72,070 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 8.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 39.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | Jefferson Parish |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 ✓ Larger | 140,046 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 62.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 21.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Metairie's 91.1 (US average = 100).
Metairie is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Metairie leads 13 of 23 categories. Joliet wins 10 and Metairie 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 Metairie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $289,800 median home), income ($84,971 vs $72,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Metairie, LA are about 804 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.