Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 Seattle leads 13 of 23 categories
Joliet
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$84,971
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
150,221
Seattle
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $646k less ($233,800 vs $879,900)
Rent averages $771/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,945)
55% less violent crime than Seattle
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Seattle by $31,097/yr
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.2%)
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $31,097 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 31°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Violent Crime
55% lower
350.0 vs 775.1 per 100k
Joliet
Median Home Value
$646k less
$233,800 vs $879,900
Joliet
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 83.6°F vs 76.5°F
Seattle
Median Income
$31,097
$116,068 vs $84,971/yr
Seattle
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 ✓ Lower | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $1,945⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" | 38.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 12.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Seattle leads 13 of 23 categories. Joliet wins 10 and Seattle 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 Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $879,900 median home), income ($84,971 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Seattle, WA are about 1,720 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.