Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
San Bernardino, CA
🏆 Joliet leads 16 of 23 categories
Joliet
Illinois
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
150,221
San Bernardino
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,323
Violent Crime Index
236⚠ High
Population
221,041 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
61% less violent crime than San Bernardino
Homes cost $113k less ($233,800 vs $347,100)
Households earn $23,648 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.2%)
More college-educated — 24.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $145/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,319)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,100
Median income trails Joliet by $23,648/yr
Violent crime (897.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2897.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Median Income
$23,648
$84,971 vs $61,323/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
61% lower
350.0 vs 897.1 per 100k
Joliet
Median Home Value
$113k less
$233,800 vs $347,100
Joliet
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.6% unemployment
San Bernardino
Summer Heat
11.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | San Bernardino, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 ✓ Lower | $347,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $1,319 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 ✓ Higher | $61,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 5.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 197⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" | 21.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 | 221,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.3 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.2% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs San Bernardino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Joliet leads 16 of 23 categories. Joliet wins 16 and San Bernardino wins 7. 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 San Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $347,100 median home), income ($84,971 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and San Bernardino, CA are about 1,661 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.