Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Torrance leads 13 of 23 categories
Joliet
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$84,971
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
150,221 ✓ Larger
Torrance
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
82 ✓ Safer
Population
145,454
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $729k less ($233,800 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $958/mo less ($1,174 vs $2,132)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $24,583/yr
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.3%)
Torrance, CA
Pros
11% less violent crime than Joliet
Households earn $24,583 more per year on average
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 31°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.3%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 84°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Joliet
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Median Home Value
$729k less
$233,800 vs $962,300
Joliet
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 83.6°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$24,583
$109,554 vs $84,971/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
11% lower
311.2 vs 350.0 per 100k
Torrance
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Torrance, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 ✓ Lower | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 27.8 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 ✓ Larger | 145,454 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Torrance leads 13 of 23 categories. Joliet wins 10 and Torrance wins 13. 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 Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $962,300 median home), income ($84,971 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Torrance, CA are about 1,725 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.