Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, AZ
VS
Santa Clara, CA
🏆 Peoria leads 15 of 22 categories
Peoria
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,759
Violent Crime Index
67
Population
191,292 ✓ Larger
Santa Clara
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$165,352 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
48 ✓ Safer
Population
128,058
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Peoria, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $1057k less ($383,600 vs $1,440,200)
Rent averages $1203/mo less ($1,638 vs $2,841)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Clara
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 60°F
Cons
Median income trails Santa Clara by $78,593/yr
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Santa Clara, CA
Pros
Households earn $78,593 more per year on average
29% less violent crime than Peoria
More college-educated — 64.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (182.0 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 105°F
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,440,200
Higher rents — median is $2,841/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Peoria
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.7 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$1057k less
$383,600 vs $1,440,200
Peoria
Summer Heat
23.8°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 80.8°F
Santa Clara
Median Income
$78,593
$165,352 vs $86,759/yr
Santa Clara
Violent Crime
29% lower
182.0 vs 254.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, AZ | Santa Clara, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $383,600⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,440,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,638⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,841⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,759 | $165,352 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.2 min⚠ High | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.1% | 21.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 57 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Santa Clara Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer | 59.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer | 80.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.1" ✓ Drier | 15.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,292 ✓ Larger | 128,058 |
| Median Age | 41.4 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 75.0% ✓ Higher | 41.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 18.0% |
| Over 65 | 18.9% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 100.7 vs Santa Clara's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Peoria leads 15 of 22 categories. Peoria wins 15 and Santa Clara 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 Peoria to Santa Clara or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,600 vs $1,440,200 median home), income ($86,759 vs $165,352), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, AZ and Santa Clara, CA are about 596 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.