Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 16 of 23 categories
Joliet
Illinois
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$84,971
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
150,221
Scottsdale
Arizona
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,197 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
240,537 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $418k less ($233,800 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $594/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,768)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 99°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $19,226/yr
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 3.5%)
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
56% less violent crime than Joliet
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (3.5%)
Households earn $19,226 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 64°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 104.0 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Median Home Value
$418k less
$233,800 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Median Income
$19,226
$104,197 vs $84,971/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
56% lower
152.5 vs 350.0 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.5% vs 6.2% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
15.8°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 104.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 63.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 67.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 16 of 23 categories. Joliet wins 7 and Scottsdale wins 16. 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 Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $651,800 median home), income ($84,971 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Scottsdale, AZ are about 1,401 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.