Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Germantown, MD
VS
Peoria, IL
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Germantown
Maryland
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Peoria
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,068
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
113,054 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Germantown, MD
Pros
Households earn $51,200 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 39°F vs 34°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $393,700
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Peoria
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $247k less ($146,700 vs $393,700)
Rent averages $991/mo less ($917 vs $1,908)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Germantown
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
Cons
Median income trails Germantown by $51,200/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 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Germantown
Median Income
$51,200
$109,268 vs $58,068/yr
Germantown
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
5.2% vs 8.0% unemployment
Peoria
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$247k less
$146,700 vs $393,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Germantown, MD | Peoria, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $393,700⚠ High | $146,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,908⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,268 ✓ Higher | $58,068 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 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 | — | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (116) ✓ Better | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County Public Schools | Peoria SD 150 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.3°F | 86.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.7" | 39.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.6" | 26.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,210 | 113,054 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.9% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 23.8% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Germantown's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Peoria's 88.6 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Germantown wins 10 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 Germantown to Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($393,700 vs $146,700 median home), income ($109,268 vs $58,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Germantown, MD and Peoria, IL are about 663 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.