Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anchorage, AK
VS
Peoria, IL
🏆 Peoria leads 13 of 23 categories
Anchorage
Alaska
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,731 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
267⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
290,674 ✓ Larger
Peoria
Illinois
13
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.
Anchorage, AK
Pros
Households earn $37,663 more per year on average
25% less violent crime than Peoria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.2%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 67°F vs 86°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $363,800
Higher rents — median is $1,405/mo
Violent crime (1014.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Peoria
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $217k less ($146,700 vs $363,800)
Rent averages $488/mo less ($917 vs $1,405)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Anchorage
Milder winters — January highs near 34°F vs 21°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Anchorage by $37,663/yr
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 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Anchorage
Median Income
$37,663
$95,731 vs $58,068/yr
Anchorage
Violent Crime
25% lower
1014.8 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Anchorage
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.2% vs 8.0% unemployment
Peoria
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$217k less
$146,700 vs $363,800
Peoria
Summer Heat
18.9°F warmer
July avg high 86.3°F vs 67.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anchorage, AK | Peoria, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $363,800⚠ High | $146,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,405⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,731 ✓ Higher | $58,068 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.1 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.7% | 9.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 213⚠ High ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 267⚠ High ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anchorage School District | Peoria SD 150 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 20.9°F | 33.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 67.4°F | 86.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.6" ✓ Drier | 39.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 59.3" | 26.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 290,674 ✓ Larger | 113,054 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.8% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 23.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anchorage's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Peoria's 88.6 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 13 of 23 categories. Anchorage wins 10 and Peoria wins 13. 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 Anchorage to Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($363,800 vs $146,700 median home), income ($95,731 vs $58,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anchorage, AK and Peoria, IL are about 2,823 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.