Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cleveland, OH
VS
Peoria, IL
🏆 Peoria leads 16 of 23 categories
Cleveland
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$37,271
Violent Crime Index
411⚠ High
Population
370,365 ✓ Larger
Peoria
Illinois
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.6
Median Household Income
$58,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,054
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Cleveland, OH
Pros
Homes cost $59k less ($87,400 vs $146,700)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.4)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 86°F
Cons
Median income trails Peoria by $20,797/yr
Violent crime (1561.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4426.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (11.9% vs 8.0%)
Peoria, IL
Pros
Households earn $20,797 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.9 pts lower (8.0%)
14% less violent crime than Cleveland
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Cleveland
Median Home Value
$59k less
$87,400 vs $146,700
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 88.4 on the COL index
Peoria
Median Income
$20,797
$58,068 vs $37,271/yr
Peoria
Violent Crime
14% lower
1344.9 vs 1561.1 per 100k
Peoria
Unemployment
3.9 pp lower
8.0% vs 11.9% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 86.3°F vs 80.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cleveland, OH | Peoria, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.4 ✓ Cheaper | 88.6 |
| Median Home Value | $87,400 ✓ Lower | $146,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $851 ✓ Lower | $917 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,271 | $58,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 11.9%⚠ High | 8.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.3 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 | 331⚠ High | 294⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 411⚠ High | 354⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 211⚠ High | 204⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.3% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.9% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cleveland Municipal | Peoria SD 150 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.3°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 80.7°F | 86.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.3" ✓ Drier | 39.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 63.8" | 26.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 370,365 ✓ Larger | 113,054 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.9% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cleveland's cost of living index is 88.4 vs Peoria's 88.6 (US average = 100).
Cleveland is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 16 of 23 categories. Cleveland wins 7 and Peoria wins 16. 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 Cleveland to Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($87,400 vs $146,700 median home), income ($37,271 vs $58,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cleveland, OH and Peoria, IL are about 416 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.