Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
O'Fallon, MO
🏆 O'Fallon leads 18 of 23 categories
Joliet
Illinois
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,971
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
150,221 ✓ Larger
O'Fallon
Missouri
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$104,863 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
91,825
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $50k less ($233,800 vs $283,600)
Rent averages $137/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,311)
Cons
Median income trails O'Fallon by $19,892/yr
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 3.1%)
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than O'Fallon
O'Fallon, MO
Pros
83% less violent crime than Joliet
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (3.1%)
Households earn $19,892 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (59.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Median Home Value
$50k less
$233,800 vs $283,600
O'Fallon
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 96.3 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
O'Fallon
Median Income
$19,892
$104,863 vs $84,971/yr
O'Fallon
Violent Crime
83% lower
59.0 vs 350.0 per 100k
O'Fallon
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.1% vs 6.2% unemployment
O'Fallon
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 87.5°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | O'Fallon, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 96.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 ✓ Lower | $283,600 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $1,311 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 | $104,863 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 3.1% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 26.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 14.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 | 18 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 16 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 | 23 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 | 12.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 42.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 95.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | FORT ZUMWALT SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 87.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" ✓ Drier | 44.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 13.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 ✓ Larger | 91,825 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 38.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% | 80.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 24.9% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs O'Fallon's 96.3 (US average = 100).
O'Fallon is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, O'Fallon leads 18 of 23 categories. Joliet wins 5 and O'Fallon wins 18. 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 O'Fallon or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $283,600 median home), income ($84,971 vs $104,863), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and O'Fallon, MO are about 233 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.