Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
New Bedford, MA
🏆 Joliet leads 15 of 23 categories
Joliet
Illinois
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
150,221 ✓ Larger
New Bedford
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,604
Violent Crime Index
93
Population
100,620
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Households earn $30,367 more per year on average
Homes cost $58k less ($233,800 vs $291,300)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (6.2%)
More college-educated — 24.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
New Bedford, MA
Pros
Rent averages $148/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,174)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 31°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $30,367/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 6.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Median Income
$30,367
$84,971 vs $54,604/yr
Joliet
Median Home Value
$58k less
$233,800 vs $291,300
Joliet
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.2% unemployment
New Bedford
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | New Bedford, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 ✓ Lower | $291,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 ✓ Higher | $54,604 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 4.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 82 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 65 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 | 11.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 16.4% |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% ✓ Higher | 76.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | New Bedford |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" ✓ Drier | 45.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" ✓ Less | 32.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 ✓ Larger | 100,620 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 36.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs New Bedford's 100.9 (US average = 100).
New Bedford is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Joliet leads 15 of 23 categories. Joliet wins 15 and New Bedford 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 New Bedford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $291,300 median home), income ($84,971 vs $54,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and New Bedford, MA are about 888 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.