Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 Tyler leads 13 of 23 categories
Joliet
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
150,221 ✓ Larger
Tyler
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,056
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
106,440
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Households earn $21,915 more per year on average
11% less violent crime than Tyler
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Tyler
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.3%)
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Tyler, TX
Pros
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 31°F
Homes cost $29k less ($205,200 vs $233,800)
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
More college-educated — 31.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $21,915/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Median Income
$21,915
$84,971 vs $63,056/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
11% lower
350.0 vs 391.2 per 100k
Tyler
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Tyler
Median Home Value
$29k less
$205,200 vs $233,800
Tyler
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.3% vs 6.2% unemployment
Tyler
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 | $205,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 | $1,113 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 ✓ Higher | $63,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 20.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 31.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 87.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 57.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" ✓ Drier | 47.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 0.5" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 ✓ Larger | 106,440 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 34.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 22.9% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Tyler is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tyler leads 13 of 23 categories. Joliet wins 10 and Tyler 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 Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $205,200 median home), income ($84,971 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Tyler, TX are about 748 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.