Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Miramar, FL
🏆 Joliet leads 11 of 20 categories
Joliet
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
150,221 ✓ Larger
Miramar
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,812
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
135,158
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $144k less ($233,800 vs $378,200)
Rent averages $666/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,840)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Miramar
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $3,159 more per year on average
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.2%)
Miramar, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 31°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 30.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $378,200
Higher rents — median is $1,840/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Joliet
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Median Income
$3,159
$84,971 vs $81,812/yr
Joliet
Median Home Value
$144k less
$233,800 vs $378,200
Miramar
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.2% unemployment
Miramar
Summer Heat
7.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.8°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Miramar, 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 | $378,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $1,840⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 ✓ Higher | $81,812 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 29.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 6.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 30.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 76.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" ✓ Drier | 67.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 ✓ Larger | 135,158 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 38.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 69.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 22.1% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 11.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Miramar's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Joliet leads 11 of 20 categories. Joliet wins 11 and Miramar wins 9. 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 Miramar or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $378,200 median home), income ($84,971 vs $81,812), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Miramar, FL are about 1,163 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.