Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Meridian, ID
VS
Peoria, IL
🏆 Meridian leads 16 of 23 categories
Meridian
Idaho
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$93,296 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
119,872 ✓ Larger
Peoria
Illinois
7
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.
Meridian, ID
Pros
89% less violent crime than Peoria
Households earn $35,228 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.3 pts lower (2.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
More college-educated — 43.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
Higher rents — median is $1,548/mo
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Peoria
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $279k less ($146,700 vs $425,800)
Rent averages $631/mo less ($917 vs $1,548)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Meridian by $35,228/yr
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 2.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Meridian
Median Income
$35,228
$93,296 vs $58,068/yr
Meridian
Violent Crime
89% lower
146.8 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Meridian
Unemployment
5.3 pp lower
2.7% vs 8.0% unemployment
Meridian
Summer Heat
6.4°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 86.3°F
Peoria
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 93.4 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$279k less
$146,700 vs $425,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Meridian, ID | Peoria, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $425,800⚠ High | $146,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,548⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,296 ✓ Higher | $58,068 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.7% ✓ Lower | 8.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.8% ✓ Higher | 9.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 27 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.4:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.5% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 | Peoria SD 150 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 86.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.4" ✓ Drier | 39.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 18.3" ✓ Less | 26.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,872 ✓ Larger | 113,054 |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 76.3% ✓ Higher | 56.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.1% ✓ More | 23.8% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Meridian's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Peoria's 88.6 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 16 of 23 categories. Meridian wins 16 and Peoria wins 7. 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 Meridian to Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($425,800 vs $146,700 median home), income ($93,296 vs $58,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Meridian, ID and Peoria, IL are about 1,379 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.