Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, AZ
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 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
Springfield
Missouri
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High
Population
168,873
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Peoria, AZ
Pros
Households earn $43,309 more per year on average
78% less violent crime than Springfield
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 43°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 11% higher than Springfield
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $237k less ($146,400 vs $383,600)
Rent averages $760/mo less ($878 vs $1,638)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
11% 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 89.3)
Cons
Median income trails Peoria by $43,309/yr
Violent crime (1178.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4184.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Median Income
$43,309
$86,759 vs $43,450/yr
Peoria
Violent Crime
78% lower
254.7 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Peoria
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.9% vs 4.8% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
16.4°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 88.2°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 100.7 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$237k less
$146,400 vs $383,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, AZ | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.7⚠ High | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $383,600⚠ High | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,638⚠ High | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,759 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.2 min⚠ High | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.1% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 57 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 91.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer | 43.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.1" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,292 ✓ Larger | 168,873 |
| Median Age | 41.4 ✓ Older | 33.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 75.0% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 18.9% ✓ More | 15.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 100.7 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 17 of 23 categories. Peoria wins 17 and Springfield 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,600 vs $146,400 median home), income ($86,759 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, AZ and Springfield, MO are about 1,093 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.