Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Moreno Valley, CA
🏆 Joliet leads 15 of 23 categories
Joliet
Illinois
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
150,221
Moreno Valley
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,637
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
209,578 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $188k less ($233,800 vs $421,400)
Rent averages $684/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,858)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (6.2%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 24.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Moreno Valley, CA
Pros
22% less violent crime than Joliet
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $421,400
Higher rents — median is $1,858/mo
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 6.2%)
Longer commutes — 35.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Median Income
$2,334
$84,971 vs $82,637/yr
Joliet
Median Home Value
$188k less
$233,800 vs $421,400
Joliet
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.5% unemployment
Moreno Valley
Violent Crime
22% lower
272.5 vs 350.0 per 100k
Moreno Valley
Summer Heat
10.5°F warmer
July avg high 94.1°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Moreno Valley, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 ✓ Lower | $421,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $1,858⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 ✓ Higher | $82,637 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 35.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 17.2% |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% ✓ Higher | 79.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | Moreno Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 65.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" | 10.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 | 209,578 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.3 ✓ Older | 31.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 63.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | 27.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.2% ✓ More | 9.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Moreno Valley's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Joliet leads 15 of 23 categories. Joliet wins 15 and Moreno Valley wins 8. 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 Moreno Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $421,400 median home), income ($84,971 vs $82,637), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Moreno Valley, CA are about 1,663 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.