Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elk Grove, CA
VS
Peoria, IL
🏆 Elk Grove leads 14 of 23 categories
Elk Grove
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$115,864 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
50 ✓ Safer
Population
176,105 ✓ Larger
Peoria
Illinois
9
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.
Elk Grove, CA
Pros
Households earn $57,796 more per year on average
86% less violent crime than Peoria
Violent crime is well below the national average (189.9 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (6.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 34°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,500
Higher rents — median is $2,076/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Peoria
Longer commutes — 33.1 min average each way
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $414k less ($146,700 vs $560,500)
Rent averages $1159/mo less ($917 vs $2,076)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Elk Grove
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 93°F
Cons
Median income trails Elk Grove by $57,796/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 6.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Elk Grove
Median Income
$57,796
$115,864 vs $58,068/yr
Elk Grove
Violent Crime
86% lower
189.9 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Elk Grove
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
6.4% vs 8.0% unemployment
Elk Grove
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 86.3°F
Peoria
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$414k less
$146,700 vs $560,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elk Grove, CA | Peoria, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $560,500⚠ High | $146,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,076⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $115,864 ✓ Higher | $58,068 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.1 min⚠ High | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 50 ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 59 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.0% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elk Grove Unified | Peoria SD 150 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.0°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.1" ✓ Drier | 39.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 26.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,105 ✓ Larger | 113,054 |
| Median Age | 38.7 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 23.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elk Grove's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Peoria's 88.6 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elk Grove leads 14 of 23 categories. Elk Grove wins 14 and Peoria wins 9. 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 Elk Grove to Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($560,500 vs $146,700 median home), income ($115,864 vs $58,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elk Grove, CA and Peoria, IL are about 1,690 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.