Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Joliet leads 15 of 23 categories
Joliet
Illinois
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
150,221 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High
Population
90,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Homes cost $543k less ($233,800 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $803/mo less ($1,174 vs $1,977)
20% less violent crime than Westminster
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (6.2%)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Households earn $4,700 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Westminster, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 31°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Higher rents — median is $1,977/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 Income
$4,700
$84,971 vs $80,271/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
20% lower
350.0 vs 436.2 per 100k
Joliet
Median Home Value
$543k less
$233,800 vs $777,100
Joliet
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Westminster, 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 | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 ✓ Higher | $80,271 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 9.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 26.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 17.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Joliet is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Joliet leads 15 of 23 categories. Joliet wins 15 and Westminster wins 8. 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $777,100 median home), income ($84,971 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Westminster, CA are about 1,709 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.