Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Peoria, AZ
🏆 Peoria leads 14 of 22 categories
Houston
Texas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Peoria
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,759 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
191,292
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Houston, TX
Pros
Homes cost $149k less ($235,000 vs $383,600)
Rent averages $403/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,638)
Cooler summers — July highs near 93°F vs 105°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Peoria by $26,319/yr
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 3.9%)
Peoria, AZ
Pros
78% less violent crime than Houston
Households earn $26,319 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $383,600
Higher rents — median is $1,638/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 100.7 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Home Value
$149k less
$235,000 vs $383,600
Peoria
Median Income
$26,319
$86,759 vs $60,440/yr
Peoria
Violent Crime
78% lower
254.7 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Peoria
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.9% vs 6.6% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
11.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 93.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Peoria, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 100.7⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 ✓ Lower | $383,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,638⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $86,759 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min ✓ Shorter | 29.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 17.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 34.8% |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 10.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 191,292 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 41.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 75.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Peoria's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Houston is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Peoria leads 14 of 22 categories. Houston wins 8 and Peoria wins 14. 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 Houston to Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $383,600 median home), income ($60,440 vs $86,759), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Peoria, AZ are about 1,030 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.