Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Thornton, CO
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Joliet
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$84,971
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
150,221 ✓ Larger
Thornton
Colorado
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,064 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
141,799
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $211k less ($233,800 vs $445,200)
Rent averages $584/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,758)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Thornton
Cons
Median income trails Thornton by $10,093/yr
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.6%)
Thornton, CO
Pros
22% less violent crime than Joliet
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.6%)
Households earn $10,093 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 31°F
More college-educated — 30.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $445,200
Higher rents — median is $1,758/mo
Property crime (2835.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Median Home Value
$211k less
$233,800 vs $445,200
Thornton
Median Income
$10,093
$95,064 vs $84,971/yr
Thornton
Violent Crime
22% lower
273.6 vs 350.0 per 100k
Thornton
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.2% unemployment
Thornton
Summer Heat
7.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.1°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Thornton, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 ✓ Lower | $445,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $1,758⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 | $95,064 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 72 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 30.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 87.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | Adams 12 Five Star Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 91.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" ✓ Less | 44.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 ✓ Larger | 141,799 |
| Median Age | 34.3 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% | 72.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.2% ✓ More | 10.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Thornton's 105.5 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Joliet wins 11 and Thornton wins 11. 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 Thornton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $445,200 median home), income ($84,971 vs $95,064), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Thornton, CO are about 885 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.