Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Tucson, AZ
🏆 Tucson leads 14 of 23 categories
Joliet
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
150,221
Tucson
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,049
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High
Population
541,033 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Households earn $32,922 more per year on average
41% less violent crime than Tucson
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 100°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Tucson
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Tucson, AZ
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 31°F
Rent averages $183/mo less ($991 vs $1,174)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.3)
More college-educated — 29.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $32,922/yr
Violent crime (588.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3313.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hot summers — July highs average 100°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Median Income
$32,922
$84,971 vs $52,049/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
41% lower
350.0 vs 588.8 per 100k
Tucson
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 94.3 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Tucson
Median Home Value
$16k less
$218,200 vs $233,800
Tucson
Summer Heat
16.6°F warmer
July avg high 100.2°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Tucson, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 94.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 | $218,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 | $991 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 ✓ Higher | $52,049 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 155⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 158⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 29.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 86.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | Tucson Unified District (4403) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 66.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 100.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" | 12.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 | 541,033 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.3 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 15.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Tucson's 94.3 (US average = 100).
Tucson is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tucson leads 14 of 23 categories. Joliet wins 9 and Tucson wins 14. 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 Tucson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $218,200 median home), income ($84,971 vs $52,049), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Tucson, AZ are about 1,407 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.