Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Minneapolis, MN
🏆 Joliet leads 13 of 23 categories
Joliet
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
150,221
Minneapolis
Minnesota
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,332
Violent Crime Index
305⚠ High
Population
426,877 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
70% less violent crime than Minneapolis
Homes cost $95k less ($233,800 vs $328,700)
Households earn $8,639 more per year on average
Rent averages $93/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,267)
Milder winters — January highs near 31°F vs 22°F
Cons
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Minneapolis, MN
Pros
More college-educated — 53.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $328,700
Violent crime (1160.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5142.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Joliet by $8,639/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Median Income
$8,639
$84,971 vs $76,332/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
70% lower
350.0 vs 1160.2 per 100k
Joliet
Median Home Value
$95k less
$233,800 vs $328,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Minneapolis, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 ✓ Lower | $328,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $1,267 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 ✓ Higher | $76,332 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 22.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 19.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 281⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 305⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 245⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 53.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | Minneapolis Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F ✓ Warmer | 21.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 | 426,877 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.3 ✓ Older | 32.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 19.1% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 10.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Minneapolis's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Joliet leads 13 of 23 categories. Joliet wins 13 and Minneapolis wins 10. 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 Minneapolis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $328,700 median home), income ($84,971 vs $76,332), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Minneapolis, MN are about 351 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.