Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
South Fulton, GA
🏆 Joliet leads 14 of 23 categories
Joliet
Illinois
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
150,221 ✓ Larger
South Fulton
Georgia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,488
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
107,865
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
26% less violent crime than South Fulton
Rent averages $287/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,461)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (6.2%)
Households earn $7,483 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
South Fulton, GA
Pros
More college-educated — 39.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 31°F
Cons
Violent crime (470.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,461/mo
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 6.2%)
Median income trails Joliet by $7,483/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Median Income
$7,483
$84,971 vs $77,488/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
26% lower
350.0 vs 470.5 per 100k
Joliet
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.8% unemployment
South Fulton
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
South Fulton
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.1°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | South Fulton, GA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 ✓ Lower | $242,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $1,461⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 ✓ Higher | $77,488 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 39.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 93.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | State Specialty Schools I- Georgia Cyber Academy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 90.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" ✓ Drier | 54.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 2.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 ✓ Larger | 107,865 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 37.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 69.2% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 24.1% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 11.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs South Fulton's 100.9 (US average = 100).
South Fulton is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Joliet leads 14 of 23 categories. Joliet wins 14 and South Fulton wins 9. 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 Fulton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $242,200 median home), income ($84,971 vs $77,488), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and South Fulton, GA are about 578 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.