Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jersey City, NJ
VS
Peoria, AZ
🏆 Peoria leads 17 of 23 categories
Jersey City
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High
Population
287,899 ✓ Larger
Peoria
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,759
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.
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
More college-educated — 51.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 105°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $4,392 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $500,100
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Peoria
Peoria, AZ
Pros
55% less violent crime than Jersey City
Homes cost $117k less ($383,600 vs $500,100)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (3.9%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 39°F
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Median income trails Jersey City by $4,392/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Jersey City
Median Income
$4,392
$91,151 vs $86,759/yr
Peoria
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.7 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Violent Crime
55% lower
254.7 vs 561.6 per 100k
Peoria
Median Home Value
$117k less
$383,600 vs $500,100
Peoria
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.8% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
17.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jersey City, NJ | Peoria, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $500,100⚠ High | $383,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,799⚠ High | $1,638⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,151 ✓ Higher | $86,759 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 37.0 min⚠ High | 29.2 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 17.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 | 57 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.9% ✓ Higher | 34.8% |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jersey City Public Schools | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 10.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 287,899 ✓ Larger | 191,292 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 41.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 29.2% | 75.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jersey City's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Peoria's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 17 of 23 categories. Jersey City wins 6 and Peoria wins 17. 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 Jersey City to Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($500,100 vs $383,600 median home), income ($91,151 vs $86,759), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jersey City, NJ and Peoria, AZ are about 2,139 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.