Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Santa Rosa, CA
🏆 Santa Rosa leads 13 of 22 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
Santa Rosa
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
110.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,604 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
90 ✓ Safer
Population
178,221 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $428k less ($233,800 vs $661,700)
Rent averages $850/mo less ($1,174 vs $2,024)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Rosa
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Santa Rosa by $7,633/yr
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Santa Rosa, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 31°F
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (5.6%)
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,633 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $661,700
Higher rents — median is $2,024/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 110.1)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Joliet
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 110.1 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Median Home Value
$428k less
$233,800 vs $661,700
Santa Rosa
Median Income
$7,633
$92,604 vs $84,971/yr
Santa Rosa
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Santa Rosa, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 110.1⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 ✓ Lower | $661,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $2,024⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 | $92,604 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 | 79 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 90 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 63 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | B- (90) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 85.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | Rincon Valley Union Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 59.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer | 81.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" | 31.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 | 178,221 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 55.7% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 20.5% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 18.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Santa Rosa's 110.1 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Santa Rosa leads 13 of 22 categories. Joliet wins 9 and Santa Rosa wins 13. 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 Santa Rosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $661,700 median home), income ($84,971 vs $92,604), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Santa Rosa, CA are about 1,830 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.