Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chattanooga, TN
VS
Peoria, IL
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Chattanooga
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
181,288 ✓ Larger
Peoria
Illinois
11
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.
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
39% less violent crime than Peoria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 34°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Peoria
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $84k less ($146,700 vs $230,500)
Rent averages $149/mo less ($917 vs $1,066)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Chattanooga
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
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 5.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Chattanooga
Violent Crime
39% lower
823.7 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Chattanooga
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.1% vs 8.0% unemployment
Chattanooga
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 86.3°F
Peoria
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 92.8 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$84k less
$146,700 vs $230,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chattanooga, TN | Peoria, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.8 | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $230,500 | $146,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,066 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,703 | $58,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 205⚠ High ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 217⚠ High ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 188⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.1% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.0% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hamilton County | Peoria SD 150 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.0°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 86.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.0" | 39.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 26.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 181,288 ✓ Larger | 113,054 |
| Median Age | 37.0 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.4% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 16.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 92.8 vs Peoria's 88.6 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Chattanooga wins 11 and Peoria wins 11. 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 Chattanooga to Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($230,500 vs $146,700 median home), income ($57,703 vs $58,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chattanooga, TN and Peoria, IL are about 459 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.