Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Little Rock, AR
VS
Peoria, IL
🏆 Peoria leads 13 of 22 categories
Little Rock
Arkansas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.1
Median Household Income
$58,697 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
440⚠ High
Population
202,218 ✓ Larger
Peoria
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,068
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
113,054
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Little Rock, AR
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (4.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 51°F vs 34°F
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.1)
Cons
Violent crime (1672.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5214.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $59k less ($146,700 vs $205,800)
20% less violent crime than Little Rock
Rent averages $89/mo less ($917 vs $1,006)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 92°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 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Little Rock
Median Income
$629
$58,697 vs $58,068/yr
Little Rock
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
4.4% vs 8.0% unemployment
Little Rock
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 86.3°F
Peoria
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 89.1 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Violent Crime
20% lower
1344.9 vs 1672.0 per 100k
Peoria
Median Home Value
$59k less
$146,700 vs $205,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Little Rock, AR | Peoria, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.1 | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $205,800 | $146,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,006 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,697 ✓ Higher | $58,068 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.3 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 9.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 363⚠ High | 294⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 440⚠ High | 354⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 204⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 15.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.1% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT | Peoria SD 150 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.5°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 86.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.4" | 39.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.8" ✓ Less | 26.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 202,218 ✓ Larger | 113,054 |
| Median Age | 36.6 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.4% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.5% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.0% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Little Rock's cost of living index is 89.1 vs Peoria's 88.6 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Peoria leads 13 of 22 categories. Little Rock wins 9 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 Little Rock to Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($205,800 vs $146,700 median home), income ($58,697 vs $58,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Little Rock, AR and Peoria, IL are about 442 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.