Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Palmdale, 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 ✓ Safer
Population
150,221
Palmdale
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High
Population
166,895 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $164k less ($233,800 vs $397,500)
36% less violent crime than Palmdale
Rent averages $451/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,625)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (6.2%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Palmdale
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $397,500
Higher rents — median is $1,625/mo
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Median Income
$6,557
$84,971 vs $78,414/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
36% lower
350.0 vs 551.0 per 100k
Joliet
Median Home Value
$164k less
$233,800 vs $397,500
Joliet
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.4% unemployment
Palmdale
Summer Heat
14.0°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Palmdale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 ✓ Lower | $397,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $1,625⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 ✓ Higher | $78,414 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 41.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 7.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C- (59) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | Palmdale Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 59.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" | 7.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 | 166,895 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.3 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 66.5% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | 29.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 10.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Palmdale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Joliet leads 15 of 23 categories. Joliet wins 15 and Palmdale 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 Palmdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $397,500 median home), income ($84,971 vs $78,414), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Palmdale, CA are about 1,689 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.