Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Peoria, AZ
🏆 Peoria leads 17 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243
Violent Crime Index
85
Population
106,598
Peoria
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,759 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
191,292 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boulder, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 105°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.9%)
Peoria, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $536k less ($383,600 vs $919,700)
21% less violent crime than Boulder
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.9%)
Rent averages $215/mo less ($1,638 vs $1,853)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 47°F
Cons
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 100.7 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Income
$6,516
$86,759 vs $80,243/yr
Peoria
Violent Crime
21% lower
254.7 vs 322.3 per 100k
Peoria
Median Home Value
$536k less
$383,600 vs $919,700
Peoria
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.4% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
16.6°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 88.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Peoria, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $383,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,638⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 | $86,759 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 29.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 17.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 34.8% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 92.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" | 10.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 | 191,292 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 41.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 75.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 vs Peoria's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 17 of 23 categories. Boulder wins 6 and Peoria wins 17. 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 Boulder to Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $383,600 median home), income ($80,243 vs $86,759), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Peoria, AZ are about 581 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.