Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Detroit, MI
VS
Peoria, IL
🏆 Peoria leads 19 of 23 categories
Detroit
Michigan
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$37,761
Violent Crime Index
469⚠ High
Population
636,787 ✓ Larger
Peoria
Illinois
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.6 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Detroit, MI
Pros
Homes cost $80k less ($66,700 vs $146,700)
Cons
Median income trails Peoria by $20,307/yr
Violent crime (1781.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4305.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (14.7% vs 8.0%)
Peoria, IL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 6.7 pts lower (8.0%)
Households earn $20,307 more per year on average
24% less violent crime than Detroit
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Detroit
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
Detroit
Median Home Value
$80k less
$66,700 vs $146,700
Peoria
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Income
$20,307
$58,068 vs $37,761/yr
Peoria
Violent Crime
24% lower
1344.9 vs 1781.3 per 100k
Peoria
Unemployment
6.7 pp lower
8.0% vs 14.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Detroit, MI | Peoria, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $66,700 ✓ Lower | $146,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $989 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $37,761 | $58,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 14.7%⚠ High | 8.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.7 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 | 363⚠ High | 294⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 469⚠ High | 354⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 205⚠ High | 204⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (79) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.9% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.8% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Detroit Public Schools Community District | Peoria SD 150 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.0°F | 33.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 86.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.9" ✓ Drier | 39.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 30.8" | 26.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 636,787 ✓ Larger | 113,054 |
| Median Age | 35.0 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 23.8% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Detroit's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Peoria's 88.6 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 19 of 23 categories. Detroit wins 4 and Peoria wins 19. 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 Detroit to Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($66,700 vs $146,700 median home), income ($37,761 vs $58,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Detroit, MI and Peoria, IL are about 355 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.