Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Highlands Ranch, CO
VS
Peoria, AZ
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 12 of 23 categories
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
Peoria
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,759
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
191,292 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $61,468 more per year on average
46% less violent crime than Peoria
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.4%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Peoria
Peoria, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $254k less ($383,600 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $715/mo less ($1,638 vs $2,353)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 45°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Highlands Ranch
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $61,468/yr
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$61,468
$148,227 vs $86,759/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
46% lower
138.1 vs 254.7 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.4% vs 3.9% unemployment
Peoria
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 100.7 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$254k less
$383,600 vs $637,400
Peoria
Summer Heat
17.3°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Highlands Ranch, CO | Peoria, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $637,400⚠ High | $383,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,353⚠ High | $1,638⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $148,227 ✓ Higher | $86,759 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 3.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter | 29.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 26.2% ✓ Higher | 17.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 63 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 67 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 | 57 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 34.8% |
| High School or Higher | 98.8% ✓ Higher | 92.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 18.2" | 10.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,514 | 191,292 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.0 | 41.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.4% ✓ Higher | 75.0% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Highlands Ranch's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Peoria's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 12 of 23 categories. Highlands Ranch wins 12 and Peoria wins 11. 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 Highlands Ranch to Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($637,400 vs $383,600 median home), income ($148,227 vs $86,759), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Highlands Ranch, CO and Peoria, AZ are about 568 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.