Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Odessa, TX
🏆 Joliet leads 11 of 21 categories
Joliet
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
150,221 ✓ Larger
Odessa
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,293
Violent Crime Index
83 ✓ Safer
Population
113,353
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Households earn $13,678 more per year on average
Rent averages $108/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,282)
More college-educated — 24.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Odessa
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Odessa, TX
Pros
10% less violent crime than Joliet
Homes cost $40k less ($193,500 vs $233,800)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 31°F
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.1)
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $13,678/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Median Income
$13,678
$84,971 vs $71,293/yr
Odessa
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.1 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Odessa
Violent Crime
10% lower
316.3 vs 350.0 per 100k
Odessa
Median Home Value
$40k less
$193,500 vs $233,800
Odessa
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Odessa, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 92.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 | $193,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $1,282 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 ✓ Higher | $71,293 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 3.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 83 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | — |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 18.4% |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% ✓ Higher | 81.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | UTPB STEM ACADEMY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 56.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 ✓ Larger | 113,353 |
| Median Age | 34.3 ✓ Older | 30.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 59.1% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | 29.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.2% ✓ More | 9.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Odessa's 92.1 (US average = 100).
Odessa is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Joliet leads 11 of 21 categories. Joliet wins 11 and Odessa wins 10. 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 Odessa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $193,500 median home), income ($84,971 vs $71,293), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Odessa, TX are about 1,028 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.