Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Miami Gardens, FL
🏆 Joliet leads 17 of 23 categories
Joliet
Illinois
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
150,221 ✓ Larger
Miami Gardens
Florida
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$56,071
Violent Crime Index
109⚠ High
Population
111,618
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Households earn $28,900 more per year on average
Rent averages $409/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,583)
16% less violent crime than Miami Gardens
Homes cost $66k less ($233,800 vs $299,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (6.2%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami Gardens
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 31°F
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $28,900/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,583/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 6.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Median Income
$28,900
$84,971 vs $56,071/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
16% lower
350.0 vs 414.6 per 100k
Joliet
Median Home Value
$66k less
$233,800 vs $299,700
Joliet
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.9% unemployment
Miami Gardens
Summer Heat
6.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Miami Gardens, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 ✓ Lower | $299,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $1,583⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 ✓ Higher | $56,071 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 7.5% ✓ 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 | 109⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% ✓ Higher | 82.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | MIAMI-DADE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 ✓ Larger | 111,618 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 38.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 64.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 16.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Miami Gardens's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Joliet leads 17 of 23 categories. Joliet wins 17 and Miami Gardens wins 6. 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 Miami Gardens or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $299,700 median home), income ($84,971 vs $56,071), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Miami Gardens, FL are about 1,166 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.