Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, AZ
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Peoria leads 14 of 22 categories
Peoria
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,759 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
191,292 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
96,314
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Peoria, AZ
Pros
Households earn $27,447 more per year on average
40% less violent crime than Yuma
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
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
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Yuma, AZ
Pros
Homes cost $197k less ($186,500 vs $383,600)
Rent averages $610/mo less ($1,028 vs $1,638)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Peoria
Cons
Median income trails Peoria by $27,447/yr
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 3.9%)
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Median Income
$27,447
$86,759 vs $59,312/yr
Peoria
Violent Crime
40% lower
254.7 vs 423.6 per 100k
Peoria
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
3.9% vs 7.7% unemployment
Yuma
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 100.7 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Median Home Value
$197k less
$186,500 vs $383,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, AZ | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.7⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $383,600⚠ High | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,638⚠ High | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,759 ✓ Higher | $59,312 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.2 min⚠ High | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.1% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 67 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 57 ✓ Safer | 59 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.8% ✓ Higher | 20.3% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria Unified School District (4237) | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 104.6°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.1" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 191,292 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 41.4 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 75.0% ✓ Higher | 64.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.9% ✓ More | 16.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 100.7 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Peoria leads 14 of 22 categories. Peoria wins 14 and Yuma 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($383,600 vs $186,500 median home), income ($86,759 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, AZ and Yuma, AZ are about 155 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.