Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Joliet, IL
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 12 of 23 categories
Joliet
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,971 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
92 ✓ Safer
Population
150,221 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,908
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
116,933
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Joliet, IL
Pros
Households earn $26,063 more per year on average
28% less violent crime than Wilmington
Homes cost $85k less ($233,800 vs $318,600)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 90°F
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.9%)
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.9%)
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 31°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Joliet
Cons
Median income trails Joliet by $26,063/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $318,600
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Joliet
Median Income
$26,063
$84,971 vs $58,908/yr
Joliet
Violent Crime
28% lower
350.0 vs 482.8 per 100k
Joliet
Median Home Value
$85k less
$233,800 vs $318,600
Wilmington
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.9% vs 6.2% unemployment
Wilmington
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 83.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Joliet, IL | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $233,800 ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,174 ✓ Lower | $1,213 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $84,971 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 79 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.9% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.8% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Joliet PSD 86 | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.1°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.6°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.2" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.9" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 150,221 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 72.4% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 26.5% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Joliet's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 12 of 23 categories. Joliet wins 11 and Wilmington wins 12. 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 Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($233,800 vs $318,600 median home), income ($84,971 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Joliet, IL and Wilmington, NC are about 753 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.