Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jacksonville, FL
VS
Peoria, IL
🏆 Jacksonville leads 12 of 23 categories
Jacksonville
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2
Median Household Income
$64,138 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
950,203 ✓ Larger
Peoria
Illinois
11
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.
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
54% less violent crime than Peoria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 34°F
Households earn $6,070 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (623.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2494.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Peoria
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $96k less ($146,700 vs $243,000)
Rent averages $364/mo less ($917 vs $1,281)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Jacksonville
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
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 4.8%)
Median income trails Jacksonville by $6,070/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Jacksonville
Median Income
$6,070
$64,138 vs $58,068/yr
Jacksonville
Violent Crime
54% lower
623.8 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Jacksonville
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.8% vs 8.0% unemployment
Jacksonville
Summer Heat
5.5°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 86.3°F
Peoria
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 99.2 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$96k less
$146,700 vs $243,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Peoria, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.2 | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $243,000 | $146,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,281 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,138 ✓ Higher | $58,068 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DUVAL | Peoria SD 150 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 86.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" | 39.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 26.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 950,203 ✓ Larger | 113,054 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.0% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jacksonville's cost of living index is 99.2 vs Peoria's 88.6 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Jacksonville leads 12 of 23 categories. Jacksonville 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 Jacksonville to Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,000 vs $146,700 median home), income ($64,138 vs $58,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jacksonville, FL and Peoria, IL are about 846 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.