Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
South Bend, IN
🏆 South Bend leads 13 of 23 categories
Joliet
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
150,221 ✓ Larger
South Bend
Indiana
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,056
Violent Crime Index
254⚠ High
Population
103,084
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Households earn $35,915 more per year on average
64% less violent crime than South Bend
Cons
Cost of living runs 11% higher than South Bend
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.5%)
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
South Bend, IN
Pros
Homes cost $120k less ($113,800 vs $233,800)
Rent averages $239/mo less ($935 vs $1,174)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.5%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.4)
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $35,915/yr
Violent crime (965.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Snowy winters — about 65" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Median Income
$35,915
$84,971 vs $49,056/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
64% lower
350.0 vs 965.0 per 100k
South Bend
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
South Bend
Median Home Value
$120k less
$113,800 vs $233,800
South Bend
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | South Bend, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 | $113,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 | $935 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 ✓ Higher | $49,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 8.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 191⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 254⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 28.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 87.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | South Bend Community School Corp |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 31.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" ✓ Drier | 40.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" ✓ Less | 64.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 ✓ Larger | 103,084 |
| Median Age | 34.3 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | 26.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 13.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs South Bend's 91.4 (US average = 100).
South Bend is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, South Bend leads 13 of 23 categories. Joliet wins 10 and South Bend 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 South Bend or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $113,800 median home), income ($84,971 vs $49,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and South Bend, IN are about 98 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.