Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Montgomery, AL
VS
Peoria, IL
🏆 Peoria leads 13 of 23 categories
Montgomery
Alabama
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
199,819 ✓ Larger
Peoria
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,068 ✓ Higher
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.
Montgomery, AL
Pros
56% less violent crime than Peoria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (7.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 34°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Peoria by $3,902/yr
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Peoria
Peoria, IL
Pros
Rent averages $109/mo less ($917 vs $1,026)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $3,902 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
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 7.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Montgomery
Violent Crime
56% lower
594.6 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Montgomery
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
7.2% vs 8.0% unemployment
Montgomery
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 86.3°F
Peoria
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 90.8 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Income
$3,902
$58,068 vs $54,166/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Montgomery, AL | Peoria, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $146,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,026 | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,166 | $58,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.3% | 9.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 294⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 156⚠ High ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.1% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County | Peoria SD 150 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.2°F ✓ Warmer | 33.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer | 86.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" | 39.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" ✓ Less | 26.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 199,819 ✓ Larger | 113,054 |
| Median Age | 36.1 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.5% | 56.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.7% | 23.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.3% | 16.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Montgomery's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Peoria's 88.6 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 13 of 23 categories. Montgomery wins 10 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 Montgomery to Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $146,700 median home), income ($54,166 vs $58,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Montgomery, AL and Peoria, IL are about 610 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.