Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 San Mateo leads 14 of 23 categories
Joliet
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$84,971
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
150,221 ✓ Larger
San Mateo
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
104,165
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $1275k less ($233,800 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1797/mo less ($1,174 vs $2,971)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $64,181/yr
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.7%)
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $64,181 more per year on average
31% less violent crime than Joliet
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Joliet
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Median Home Value
$1275k less
$233,800 vs $1,508,900
Joliet
Summer Heat
11.0°F warmer
July avg high 83.6°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$64,181
$149,152 vs $84,971/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
31% lower
243.2 vs 350.0 per 100k
San Mateo
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 ✓ Lower | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 58.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" | 19.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Mateo leads 14 of 23 categories. Joliet wins 9 and San Mateo wins 14. 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 Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($84,971 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and San Mateo, CA are about 1,829 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.