Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Ontario, 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
Ontario
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,070
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
176,326 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $279k less ($233,800 vs $513,000)
Rent averages $652/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,826)
Households earn $6,901 more per year on average
More college-educated — 24.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Ontario
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Ontario, CA
Pros
22% less violent crime than Joliet
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $513,000
Higher rents — median is $1,826/mo
Median income trails Joliet by $6,901/yr
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Joliet
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Median Income
$6,901
$84,971 vs $78,070/yr
Joliet
Median Home Value
$279k less
$233,800 vs $513,000
Ontario
Violent Crime
22% lower
272.2 vs 350.0 per 100k
Ontario
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Ontario, 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 | $513,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $1,826⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 ✓ Higher | $78,070 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% ✓ Higher | 76.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | Ontario-Montclair |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" | 11.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 | 176,326 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.3 ✓ Older | 32.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 24.9% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% ✓ More | 10.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Ontario'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 Ontario 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 Ontario or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $513,000 median home), income ($84,971 vs $78,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Ontario, CA are about 1,680 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.