Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Joliet leads 12 of 23 categories
Joliet
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
150,221
Salem
Oregon
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,540
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
175,754 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $116k less ($233,800 vs $349,500)
34% less violent crime than Salem
Households earn $17,431 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Salem, OR
Pros
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 31°F
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $349,500
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Joliet by $17,431/yr
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Median Income
$17,431
$84,971 vs $67,540/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
34% lower
350.0 vs 532.2 per 100k
Joliet
Median Home Value
$116k less
$233,800 vs $349,500
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 102.6 on the COL index
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 ✓ Lower | $349,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $1,224 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 ✓ Higher | $67,540 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 12.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 88.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 1.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 35.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 15.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Salem is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Joliet leads 12 of 23 categories. Joliet wins 12 and Salem 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 Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $349,500 median home), income ($84,971 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Salem, OR are about 1,758 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.