Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
San Francisco, CA
🏆 San Francisco leads 12 of 23 categories
Joliet
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$84,971
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
150,221
San Francisco
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $1115k less ($233,800 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $1142/mo less ($1,174 vs $2,316)
41% less violent crime than San Francisco
15% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $51,718/yr
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.4%)
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $51,718 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 31°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.4%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 117.1)
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Violent Crime
41% lower
350.0 vs 596.5 per 100k
Joliet
Median Home Value
$1115k less
$233,800 vs $1,348,700
Joliet
Summer Heat
21.8°F warmer
July avg high 83.6°F vs 61.8°F
San Francisco
Median Income
$51,718
$136,689 vs $84,971/yr
San Francisco
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | San Francisco, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 117.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 ✓ Lower | $1,348,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $2,316⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 | $136,689 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 31.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 23.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 169⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 187⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 59.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 88.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | San Francisco Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer | 61.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" | 30.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 | 851,036 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 39.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 38.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 13.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs San Francisco's 117.1 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Francisco leads 12 of 23 categories. Joliet wins 11 and San Francisco wins 12. 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 Francisco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $1,348,700 median home), income ($84,971 vs $136,689), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and San Francisco, CA are about 1,862 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.