Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Richardson, TX
🏆 Richardson leads 16 of 23 categories
Joliet
Illinois
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$84,971
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
150,221 ✓ Larger
Richardson
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,362 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
118,063
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $146k less ($233,800 vs $379,800)
Rent averages $551/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,725)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.0%)
Median income trails Richardson by $9,391/yr
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Richardson, TX
Pros
58% less violent crime than Joliet
More college-educated — 55.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 31°F
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $379,800
Higher rents — median is $1,725/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Median Home Value
$146k less
$233,800 vs $379,800
Richardson
Median Income
$9,391
$94,362 vs $84,971/yr
Richardson
Violent Crime
58% lower
146.7 vs 350.0 per 100k
Richardson
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.2% unemployment
Richardson
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Richardson, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 ✓ Lower | $379,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $1,725⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 | $94,362 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 19.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 | 58 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 39 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 87 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A+ (133) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 55.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 92.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | RICHARDSON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" | 40.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 1.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 ✓ Larger | 118,063 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 21.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 12.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Richardson's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richardson leads 16 of 23 categories. Joliet wins 7 and Richardson wins 16. 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 Richardson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $379,800 median home), income ($84,971 vs $94,362), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Richardson, TX are about 754 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.