Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 Joliet leads 15 of 23 categories
Joliet
Illinois
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$84,971
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
150,221 ✓ Larger
Richmond
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $391k less ($233,800 vs $624,800)
Rent averages $679/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,853)
62% less violent crime than Richmond
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (6.2%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Richmond, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 31°F
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Violent Crime
62% lower
350.0 vs 923.1 per 100k
Joliet
Median Home Value
$391k less
$233,800 vs $624,800
Joliet
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
6.2% vs 6.9% unemployment
Joliet
Summer Heat
12.8°F warmer
July avg high 83.6°F vs 70.8°F
Richmond
Median Income
$1,647
$86,618 vs $84,971/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 | $86,618 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 11.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 58.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" | 24.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 ✓ Larger | 115,619 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 21.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Joliet leads 15 of 23 categories. Joliet wins 15 and Richmond 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $624,800 median home), income ($84,971 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Richmond, CA are about 1,822 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.