Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Montgomery leads 12 of 22 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
Montgomery
Alabama
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
199,819 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Households earn $30,805 more per year on average
41% less violent crime than Montgomery
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (6.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Montgomery
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $92k less ($141,900 vs $233,800)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 31°F
Rent averages $148/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,174)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
More college-educated — 33.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $30,805/yr
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 6.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Median Income
$30,805
$84,971 vs $54,166/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
41% lower
350.0 vs 594.6 per 100k
Joliet
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.2% unemployment
Montgomery
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$92k less
$141,900 vs $233,800
Montgomery
Summer Heat
10.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 ✓ Higher | $54,166 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 106⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" ✓ Drier | 54.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 0.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 | 199,819 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 53.5% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 23.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 12 of 22 categories. Joliet wins 10 and Montgomery wins 12. 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 Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $141,900 median home), income ($84,971 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Montgomery, AL are about 642 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.