Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carmel, IN
VS
Peoria, IL
🏆 Carmel leads 14 of 23 categories
Carmel
Indiana
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6
Median Household Income
$132,859 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
17 ✓ Safer
Population
99,453
Peoria
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,068
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
113,054 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carmel, IN
Pros
Households earn $74,791 more per year on average
95% less violent crime than Peoria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.4 pts lower (2.6%)
More college-educated — 73.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (66.0 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,900
Higher rents — median is $1,499/mo
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Peoria
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $279k less ($146,700 vs $425,900)
Rent averages $582/mo less ($917 vs $1,499)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Carmel
Cons
Median income trails Carmel by $74,791/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 2.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carmel
Median Income
$74,791
$132,859 vs $58,068/yr
Carmel
Violent Crime
95% lower
66.0 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Carmel
Unemployment
5.4 pp lower
2.6% vs 8.0% unemployment
Peoria
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 94.6 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$279k less
$146,700 vs $425,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carmel, IN | Peoria, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $425,900⚠ High | $146,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,499⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $132,859 ✓ Higher | $58,068 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.6% ✓ Lower | 8.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.2 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.3% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 26 ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (120) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.7% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 98.1% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carmel Clay Schools | Peoria SD 150 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.5°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.4°F | 86.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.2" | 39.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 20.3" ✓ Less | 26.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,453 | 113,054 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.6% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% ✓ More | 23.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carmel's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Peoria's 88.6 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carmel leads 14 of 23 categories. Carmel wins 14 and Peoria wins 9. 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 Carmel to Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,900 vs $146,700 median home), income ($132,859 vs $58,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carmel, IN and Peoria, IL are about 191 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.