Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Joliet leads 13 of 22 categories
Joliet
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
150,221
Tacoma
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $182k less ($233,800 vs $415,300)
67% less violent crime than Tacoma
Rent averages $315/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,489)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Tacoma
Households earn $5,886 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.4%)
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 31°F
More college-educated — 32.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,489/mo
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
Median Income
$5,886
$84,971 vs $79,085/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
67% lower
350.0 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Joliet
Median Home Value
$182k less
$233,800 vs $415,300
Joliet
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 83.6°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Tacoma, 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 | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $1,489⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 ✓ Higher | $79,085 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 32.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" ✓ Drier | 40.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 5.6" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 36.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 56.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Joliet leads 13 of 22 categories. Joliet wins 13 and Tacoma 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $415,300 median home), income ($84,971 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Tacoma, WA are about 1,725 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.