Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Peoria, IL
🏆 Peoria leads 13 of 23 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$62,378 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
Peoria
Illinois
13
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.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
48% less violent crime than Peoria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (5.9%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Households earn $4,310 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Peoria
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $24k less ($146,700 vs $170,700)
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
Rent averages $78/mo less ($917 vs $995)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Des Moines
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 5.9%)
Median income trails Des Moines by $4,310/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Des Moines
Median Income
$4,310
$62,378 vs $58,068/yr
Des Moines
Violent Crime
48% lower
703.0 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Des Moines
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
5.9% vs 8.0% unemployment
Peoria
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 92.7 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$24k less
$146,700 vs $170,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Peoria, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 | $146,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 ✓ Higher | $58,068 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Peoria SD 150 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 33.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F | 86.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" ✓ Drier | 39.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 26.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 ✓ Larger | 113,054 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.2% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Peoria's 88.6 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 13 of 23 categories. Des Moines wins 10 and Peoria wins 13. 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 Des Moines to Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $146,700 median home), income ($62,378 vs $58,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Peoria, IL are about 215 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.