Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Peoria, IL
🏆 Carlsbad leads 16 of 23 categories
Carlsbad
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745 ✓ Larger
Peoria
Illinois
7
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.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $76,071 more per year on average
85% less violent crime than Peoria
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (6.0%)
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 34°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Peoria
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $924k less ($146,700 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $1560/mo less ($917 vs $2,477)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $76,071/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 6.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Median Income
$76,071
$134,139 vs $58,068/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
85% lower
199.1 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Carlsbad
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
6.0% vs 8.0% unemployment
Peoria
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$924k less
$146,700 vs $1,070,500
Peoria
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 86.3°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Peoria, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $146,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $58,068 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | Peoria SD 150 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 86.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 39.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 26.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 ✓ Larger | 113,054 |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.8% ✓ More | 16.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Peoria's 88.6 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carlsbad leads 16 of 23 categories. Carlsbad wins 16 and Peoria wins 7. 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 Carlsbad to Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $146,700 median home), income ($134,139 vs $58,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Peoria, IL are about 1,608 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.