Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Joliet leads 12 of 23 categories
Joliet
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$84,971
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
150,221 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $384k less ($233,800 vs $617,300)
Rent averages $988/mo less ($1,174 vs $2,162)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Tracy
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $26,746/yr
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.4%)
Tracy, CA
Pros
Households earn $26,746 more per year on average
14% less violent crime than Joliet
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Longer commutes — 43.5 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 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Joliet
Median Home Value
$384k less
$233,800 vs $617,300
Tracy
Median Income
$26,746
$111,717 vs $84,971/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
14% lower
301.4 vs 350.0 per 100k
Tracy
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
Tracy
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 64.0% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.2% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Joliet leads 12 of 23 categories. Joliet wins 12 and Tracy 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $617,300 median home), income ($84,971 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Tracy, CA are about 1,780 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.