Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, AZ
VS
St. Louis, MO
🏆 Peoria leads 15 of 23 categories
Peoria
Arizona
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,759 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
191,292
St. Louis
Missouri
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,941
Violent Crime Index
360⚠ High
Population
298,018 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Peoria, AZ
Pros
81% less violent crime than St. Louis
Households earn $33,818 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 41°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $383,600
Higher rents — median is $1,638/mo
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
St. Louis, MO
Pros
Homes cost $210k less ($174,100 vs $383,600)
Rent averages $700/mo less ($938 vs $1,638)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 105°F
More college-educated — 38.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Peoria by $33,818/yr
Violent crime (1367.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5706.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Median Income
$33,818
$86,759 vs $52,941/yr
Peoria
Violent Crime
81% lower
254.7 vs 1367.1 per 100k
Peoria
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.4% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
15.0°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 89.6°F
St. Louis
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 96.3 vs 100.7 (100 = US avg)
St. Louis
Median Home Value
$210k less
$174,100 vs $383,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, AZ | St. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.7⚠ High | 96.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $383,600⚠ High | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,638⚠ High | $938 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,759 ✓ Higher | $52,941 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.2 min⚠ High | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.1% ✓ Higher | 12.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 325⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 360⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 57 ✓ Safer | 272⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% | 38.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | ST. LOUIS CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer | 40.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.1" ✓ Drier | 43.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,292 | 298,018 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.4 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 75.0% ✓ Higher | 44.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 18.9% ✓ More | 14.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 100.7 vs St. Louis's 96.3 (US average = 100).
St. Louis is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 15 of 23 categories. Peoria wins 15 and St. Louis wins 8. 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 St. Louis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,600 vs $174,100 median home), income ($86,759 vs $52,941), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, AZ and St. Louis, MO are about 1,271 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.