Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Peoria, IL
🏆 Lafayette leads 12 of 22 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
121,706 ✓ Larger
Peoria
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.6
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.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
21% less violent crime than Peoria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (6.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 62°F vs 34°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
Cons
Violent crime (1066.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4347.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $88k less ($146,700 vs $234,900)
Rent averages $105/mo less ($917 vs $1,022)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
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 6.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 88.6 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Income
$782
$58,850 vs $58,068/yr
Lafayette
Violent Crime
21% lower
1066.1 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Lafayette
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.0% unemployment
Lafayette
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.0°F vs 86.3°F
Peoria
Median Home Value
$88k less
$146,700 vs $234,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Peoria, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 88.6 |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 | $146,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 ✓ Higher | $58,068 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 9.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | 204⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | Peoria SD 150 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer | 86.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" | 39.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 26.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 ✓ Larger | 113,054 |
| Median Age | 36.9 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.2% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 16.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Peoria's 88.6 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lafayette leads 12 of 22 categories. Lafayette wins 12 and Peoria wins 10. 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 Lafayette to Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $146,700 median home), income ($58,850 vs $58,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Peoria, IL are about 741 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.