Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
New Haven, CT
🏆 Joliet leads 14 of 23 categories
Joliet
Illinois
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
150,221 ✓ Larger
New Haven
Connecticut
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,305
Violent Crime Index
141⚠ High
Population
135,736
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Households earn $30,666 more per year on average
35% less violent crime than New Haven
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (6.2%)
Rent averages $228/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,402)
Cons
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 4% higher than New Haven
New Haven, CT
Pros
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 38.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 38°F vs 31°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.0:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $30,666/yr
Violent crime (534.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,402/mo
Property crime (3587.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Median Income
$30,666
$84,971 vs $54,305/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
35% lower
350.0 vs 534.8 per 100k
Joliet
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.8% unemployment
New Haven
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 98.6 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | New Haven, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 98.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 ✓ Lower | $236,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $1,402⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 ✓ Higher | $54,305 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 141⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 | 12.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 38.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 85.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | New Haven School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 38.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" ✓ Drier | 41.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 ✓ Larger | 135,736 |
| Median Age | 34.3 ✓ Older | 31.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 28.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 10.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs New Haven's 98.6 (US average = 100).
New Haven is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Joliet leads 14 of 23 categories. Joliet wins 14 and New Haven 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 New Haven or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $236,500 median home), income ($84,971 vs $54,305), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and New Haven, CT are about 788 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.