Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Joliet
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
150,221
Sacramento
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $217k less ($233,800 vs $450,500)
54% less violent crime than Sacramento
Rent averages $418/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,592)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Households earn $6,017 more per year on average
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Sacramento
Cons
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Sacramento, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 31°F
More college-educated — 35.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2547.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Median Income
$6,017
$84,971 vs $78,954/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
54% lower
350.0 vs 754.9 per 100k
Joliet
Median Home Value
$217k less
$233,800 vs $450,500
Sacramento
Summer Heat
10.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 ✓ Lower | $450,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 ✓ Higher | $78,954 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 121⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 35.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 86.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" | 20.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 35.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 50.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 13.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Joliet wins 11 and Sacramento wins 11. 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 Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $450,500 median home), income ($84,971 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Sacramento, CA are about 1,763 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.