Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Garland, TX
VS
Peoria, IL
🏆 Garland leads 12 of 22 categories
Garland
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
61 ✓ Safer
Population
244,026 ✓ Larger
Peoria
Illinois
10
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.
Garland, TX
Pros
83% less violent crime than Peoria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.2%)
Households earn $12,976 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (232.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 34°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,421/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Peoria
Longer commutes — 29.7 min average each way
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $82k less ($146,700 vs $229,000)
Rent averages $504/mo less ($917 vs $1,421)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Garland
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
Cons
Violent crime (1344.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Garland by $12,976/yr
Property crime (4284.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Garland
Median Income
$12,976
$71,044 vs $58,068/yr
Garland
Violent Crime
83% lower
232.7 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Garland
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.2% vs 8.0% unemployment
Garland
Summer Heat
8.0°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 86.3°F
Peoria
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$82k less
$146,700 vs $229,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Garland, TX | Peoria, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $229,000 | $146,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,421⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,044 ✓ Higher | $58,068 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.7 min⚠ High | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 61 ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 95 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.1% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 78.6% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | GARLAND ISD | Peoria SD 150 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 86.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 39.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 26.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 244,026 ✓ Larger | 113,054 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.0% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% ✓ More | 23.8% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Garland's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Peoria's 88.6 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Garland leads 12 of 22 categories. Garland wins 12 and Peoria wins 10. 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 Garland to Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($229,000 vs $146,700 median home), income ($71,044 vs $58,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Garland, TX and Peoria, IL are about 666 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.