Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Peoria, IL
🏆 Peoria leads 16 of 23 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292 ✓ Larger
Peoria
Illinois
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,068 ✓ Higher
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.
Allentown, PA
Pros
80% less violent crime than Peoria
Cons
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 8.0%)
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Peoria
Median income trails Peoria by $5,619/yr
Peoria, IL
Pros
Rent averages $285/mo less ($917 vs $1,202)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (8.0%)
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $22k less ($146,700 vs $168,800)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Allentown
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Violent Crime
80% lower
272.1 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Peoria
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Income
$5,619
$58,068 vs $52,449/yr
Peoria
Median Home Value
$22k less
$146,700 vs $168,800
Peoria
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
8.0% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Peoria, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 | $146,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $58,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 8.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 9.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Peoria SD 150 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F ✓ Warmer | 86.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 39.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 26.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 113,054 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 23.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Peoria's 88.6 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 16 of 23 categories. Allentown wins 7 and Peoria wins 16. 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 Allentown to Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $146,700 median home), income ($52,449 vs $58,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Peoria, IL are about 740 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.