Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Peoria, AZ
🏆 Peoria leads 20 of 22 categories
El Monte
California
2
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
108,682
Peoria
Arizona
20
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,759 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
191,292 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Monte, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 105°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Median income trails Peoria by $26,830/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Peoria
Peoria, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $214k less ($383,600 vs $597,200)
Households earn $26,830 more per year on average
40% less violent crime than El Monte
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.7 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Income
$26,830
$86,759 vs $59,929/yr
Peoria
Violent Crime
40% lower
254.7 vs 423.2 per 100k
Peoria
Median Home Value
$214k less
$383,600 vs $597,200
Peoria
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.9% vs 7.0% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
19.1°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, CA | Peoria, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,200⚠ High | $383,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,638⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 | $86,759 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 29.2 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 17.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 | 57 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 34.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 65.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" | 10.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 | 191,292 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 41.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 75.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Peoria's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Peoria leads 20 of 22 categories. El Monte wins 2 and Peoria wins 20. 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 El Monte to Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $383,600 median home), income ($59,929 vs $86,759), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Peoria, AZ are about 329 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.