Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Peoria, IL
🏆 Peoria leads 13 of 23 categories
Houston
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$60,440 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Peoria
Illinois
13
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.
Houston, TX
Pros
15% less violent crime than Peoria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 34°F
Cons
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
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Peoria
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $88k less ($146,700 vs $235,000)
Rent averages $318/mo less ($917 vs $1,235)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Houston
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 93°F
Cons
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 6.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Median Income
$2,372
$60,440 vs $58,068/yr
Houston
Violent Crime
15% lower
1148.2 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Houston
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.0% unemployment
Houston
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 86.3°F
Peoria
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 100.2 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$88k less
$146,700 vs $235,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Peoria, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 | $146,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 ✓ Higher | $58,068 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | Peoria SD 150 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 86.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" | 39.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 26.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 113,054 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 35.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 23.8% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Peoria's 88.6 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 13 of 23 categories. Houston wins 10 and Peoria wins 13. 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 $146,700 median home), income ($60,440 vs $58,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Peoria, IL are about 824 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.