Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, AZ
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Peoria leads 18 of 23 categories
Peoria
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,759 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
191,292 ✓ Larger
Roanoke
Virginia
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Peoria, AZ
Pros
Households earn $35,236 more per year on average
59% less violent crime than Roanoke
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 47°F
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $383,600
Higher rents — median is $1,638/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Roanoke
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $222k less ($162,000 vs $383,600)
Rent averages $721/mo less ($917 vs $1,638)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Peoria
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 105°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Cons
Median income trails Peoria by $35,236/yr
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Median Income
$35,236
$86,759 vs $51,523/yr
Peoria
Violent Crime
59% lower
254.7 vs 620.4 per 100k
Peoria
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.9% vs 6.6% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
16.5°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 88.1°F
Roanoke
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 100.7 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$222k less
$162,000 vs $383,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, AZ | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.7⚠ High | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $383,600⚠ High | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,638⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,759 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.2 min⚠ High | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.1% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 57 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B (100) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 89.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer | 47.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.1" ✓ Drier | 42.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 14.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,292 ✓ Larger | 99,213 |
| Median Age | 41.4 ✓ Older | 38.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 75.0% ✓ Higher | 52.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 22.2% |
| Over 65 | 18.9% ✓ More | 17.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 100.7 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 18 of 23 categories. Peoria wins 18 and Roanoke wins 5. 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 Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,600 vs $162,000 median home), income ($86,759 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, AZ and Roanoke, VA are about 1,826 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.