Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Temecula, CA
🏆 Temecula leads 15 of 23 categories
Joliet
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$84,971
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
150,221 ✓ Larger
Temecula
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,881 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
110,114
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $371k less ($233,800 vs $604,300)
Rent averages $1048/mo less ($1,174 vs $2,222)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Temecula
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Temecula by $26,910/yr
Temecula, CA
Pros
57% less violent crime than Joliet
Households earn $26,910 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.5 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 31°F
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $604,300
Higher rents — median is $2,222/mo
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Joliet
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Median Home Value
$371k less
$233,800 vs $604,300
Temecula
Median Income
$26,910
$111,881 vs $84,971/yr
Temecula
Violent Crime
57% lower
151.5 vs 350.0 per 100k
Temecula
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 87.2°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Temecula, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 ✓ Lower | $604,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $2,222⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 | $111,881 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 80 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 93.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | Temecula Valley Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 87.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" | 15.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 0.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 ✓ Larger | 110,114 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 68.3% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 11.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Temecula's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Temecula leads 15 of 23 categories. Joliet wins 8 and Temecula wins 15. 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 Temecula or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $604,300 median home), income ($84,971 vs $111,881), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Temecula, CA are about 1,673 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.