Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 15 of 23 categories
Joliet
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
150,221
Wichita
Kansas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,712
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
395,951 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
35% less violent crime than Wichita
Households earn $24,259 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 93°F
Cons
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Wichita
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $67k less ($166,400 vs $233,800)
Rent averages $259/mo less ($915 vs $1,174)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 44°F vs 31°F
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $24,259/yr
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Median Income
$24,259
$84,971 vs $60,712/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
35% lower
350.0 vs 538.6 per 100k
Wichita
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Home Value
$67k less
$166,400 vs $233,800
Wichita
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
Wichita
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 ✓ Higher | $60,712 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 43.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" | 35.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 12.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 35.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 24.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 15.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 15 of 23 categories. Joliet wins 8 and Wichita wins 15. 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 Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $166,400 median home), income ($84,971 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Wichita, KS are about 556 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.