Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Peoria, IL
🏆 Peoria leads 12 of 23 categories
Costa Mesa
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
111,490
Peoria
Illinois
12
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.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Households earn $46,913 more per year on average
45% less violent crime than Peoria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 34°F
More college-educated — 42.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 86°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $959,800
Higher rents — median is $2,268/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Peoria
Violent crime (737.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $813k less ($146,700 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $1351/mo less ($917 vs $2,268)
27% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Commutes run 4 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 Costa Mesa by $46,913/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 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$46,913
$104,981 vs $58,068/yr
Costa Mesa
Violent Crime
45% lower
737.6 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Costa Mesa
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.0% unemployment
Peoria
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$813k less
$146,700 vs $959,800
Peoria
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 86.3°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Peoria, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $146,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $58,068 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | Peoria SD 150 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 86.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 39.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 26.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 | 113,054 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Peoria's 88.6 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 12 of 23 categories. Costa Mesa wins 11 and Peoria wins 12. 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 Costa Mesa to Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $146,700 median home), income ($104,981 vs $58,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Peoria, IL are about 1,624 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.