Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Peoria, IL
🏆 Albuquerque leads 15 of 23 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0
Median Household Income
$61,503 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Peoria
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,068
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
113,054
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
12% less violent crime than Peoria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 34°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Households earn $3,435 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Peoria
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $99k less ($146,700 vs $246,000)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Rent averages $97/mo less ($917 vs $1,014)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 95°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Albuquerque
Cons
Violent crime (1344.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4284.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 5.5%)
Median income trails Albuquerque by $3,435/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Median Income
$3,435
$61,503 vs $58,068/yr
Albuquerque
Violent Crime
12% lower
1181.8 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Albuquerque
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.0% unemployment
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
8.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 86.3°F
Peoria
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 93.0 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$99k less
$146,700 vs $246,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Peoria, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 | $146,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 ✓ Higher | $58,068 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 204⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | Peoria SD 150 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 86.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 39.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" ✓ Less | 26.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 113,054 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 16.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Peoria's 88.6 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 15 of 23 categories. Albuquerque wins 15 and Peoria 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 Albuquerque to Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $146,700 median home), income ($61,503 vs $58,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Peoria, IL are about 1,005 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.