Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 Richmond leads 15 of 23 categories
Joliet
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
150,221
Richmond
Virginia
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
227,171 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Households earn $25,365 more per year on average
Homes cost $75k less ($233,800 vs $308,300)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Cons
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Richmond
Richmond, VA
Pros
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 31°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $25,365/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $308,300
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Median Income
$25,365
$84,971 vs $59,606/yr
Joliet
Median Home Value
$75k less
$233,800 vs $308,300
Richmond
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Richmond
Violent Crime
4% lower
336.9 vs 350.0 per 100k
Richmond
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 89.5°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 ✓ Lower | $308,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $1,227 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 ✓ Higher | $59,606 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 47.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 89.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" ✓ Drier | 47.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 8.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 | 227,171 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 34.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 43.2% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Richmond leads 15 of 23 categories. Joliet wins 8 and Richmond wins 15. 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 $308,300 median home), income ($84,971 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Richmond, VA are about 631 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.