Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, AZ
VS
Plano, TX
🏆 Peoria leads 13 of 23 categories
Peoria
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,759
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
191,292
Plano
Texas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Peoria, AZ
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (3.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 56°F
Homes cost $29k less ($383,600 vs $412,500)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Plano
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $18,920/yr
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Plano, TX
Pros
40% less violent crime than Peoria
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $18,920 more per year on average
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 105°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $412,500
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Peoria
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.7 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$29k less
$383,600 vs $412,500
Peoria
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
3.9% vs 4.4% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
10.3°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 94.3°F
Plano
Median Income
$18,920
$105,679 vs $86,759/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
40% lower
151.6 vs 254.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, AZ | Plano, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $383,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $412,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,638⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,699⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,759 | $105,679 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.2 min⚠ High | 25.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.1% | 22.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 57 ✓ Safer | 70 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A+ (134) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% | 58.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% | 93.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | PLANO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer | 55.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer | 94.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.1" ✓ Drier | 40.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,292 | 284,948 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.4 ✓ Older | 38.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 75.0% ✓ Higher | 56.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 18.9% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 100.7 vs Plano's 103.3 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 13 of 23 categories. Peoria wins 13 and Plano 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 Peoria to Plano or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,600 vs $412,500 median home), income ($86,759 vs $105,679), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, AZ and Plano, TX are about 898 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.