Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indianapolis, IN
VS
Peoria, AZ
🏆 Peoria leads 15 of 23 categories
Indianapolis
Indiana
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,110
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High
Population
882,006 ✓ Larger
Peoria
Arizona
15
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.
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
Homes cost $199k less ($184,600 vs $383,600)
Rent averages $592/mo less ($1,046 vs $1,638)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 105°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Peoria
Cons
Median income trails Peoria by $27,649/yr
Violent crime (877.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3336.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.6% vs 3.9%)
Peoria, AZ
Pros
71% less violent crime than Indianapolis
Households earn $27,649 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 34°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $383,600
Higher rents — median is $1,638/mo
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Indianapolis
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 94.6 vs 100.7 (100 = US avg)
Indianapolis
Median Home Value
$199k less
$184,600 vs $383,600
Peoria
Median Income
$27,649
$86,759 vs $59,110/yr
Peoria
Violent Crime
71% lower
254.7 vs 877.9 per 100k
Peoria
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.6% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
20.9°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 83.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indianapolis, IN | Peoria, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.7⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $184,600 ✓ Lower | $383,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,046 ✓ Lower | $1,638⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,110 | $86,759 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter | 29.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% | 17.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 202⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 231⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High | 57 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.4% | 34.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indianapolis Public Schools | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.2°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.7°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.2" | 10.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 25.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 882,006 ✓ Larger | 191,292 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 41.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 75.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 22.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indianapolis's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Peoria's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Indianapolis is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 15 of 23 categories. Indianapolis wins 8 and Peoria wins 15. 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 Indianapolis to Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,600 vs $383,600 median home), income ($59,110 vs $86,759), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indianapolis, IN and Peoria, AZ are about 1,500 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.