Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, AZ
VS
Reading, PA
🏆 Peoria leads 17 of 23 categories
Peoria
Arizona
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,759 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
191,292 ✓ Larger
Reading
Pennsylvania
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$42,852
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
94,601
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Peoria, AZ
Pros
Households earn $43,907 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 7.4 pts lower (3.9%)
24% less violent crime than Reading
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 39°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $383,600
Higher rents — median is $1,638/mo
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Reading
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Reading, PA
Pros
Homes cost $287k less ($96,900 vs $383,600)
Rent averages $696/mo less ($942 vs $1,638)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 105°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Peoria
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.5)
Cons
Median income trails Peoria by $43,907/yr
Higher unemployment (11.3% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Median Income
$43,907
$86,759 vs $42,852/yr
Peoria
Violent Crime
24% lower
254.7 vs 337.2 per 100k
Peoria
Unemployment
7.4 pp lower
3.9% vs 11.3% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
18.1°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 86.5°F
Reading
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 92.5 vs 100.7 (100 = US avg)
Reading
Median Home Value
$287k less
$96,900 vs $383,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, AZ | Reading, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.7⚠ High | 92.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $383,600⚠ High | $96,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,638⚠ High | $942 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,759 ✓ Higher | $42,852 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 11.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.2 min⚠ High | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.1% ✓ Higher | 4.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 57 ✓ Safer | 68 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C (80) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% ✓ Higher | 11.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 71.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Reading SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.1" ✓ Drier | 49.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 27.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,292 ✓ Larger | 94,601 |
| Median Age | 41.4 ✓ Older | 31.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 75.0% ✓ Higher | 39.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 28.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.9% ✓ More | 10.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 100.7 vs Reading's 92.5 (US average = 100).
Reading is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 17 of 23 categories. Peoria wins 17 and Reading wins 6. 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 Reading or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,600 vs $96,900 median home), income ($86,759 vs $42,852), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, AZ and Reading, PA are about 2,041 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.