Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Toledo, OH
🏆 Joliet leads 12 of 23 categories
Joliet
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
150,221
Toledo
Ohio
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,405
Violent Crime Index
274⚠ High
Population
269,962 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Households earn $39,566 more per year on average
66% less violent crime than Toledo
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (6.2%)
More college-educated — 24.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Toledo
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Toledo, OH
Pros
Homes cost $135k less ($98,800 vs $233,800)
Rent averages $320/mo less ($854 vs $1,174)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.4)
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $39,566/yr
Violent crime (1041.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2732.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 6.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Median Income
$39,566
$84,971 vs $45,405/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
66% lower
350.0 vs 1041.1 per 100k
Joliet
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.2% unemployment
Toledo
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 90.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Toledo
Median Home Value
$135k less
$98,800 vs $233,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Toledo, OH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 90.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 | $98,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 | $854 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 ✓ Higher | $45,405 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 216⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 274⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 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 | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 20.2% |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 88.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | Toledo City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 33.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 84.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" ✓ Less | 37.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 | 269,962 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 23.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 14.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Toledo's 90.4 (US average = 100).
Toledo is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Joliet leads 12 of 23 categories. Joliet wins 12 and Toledo 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 Toledo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $98,800 median home), income ($84,971 vs $45,405), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Toledo, OH are about 236 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.