Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, IL
VS
Pittsburgh, PA
🏆 Pittsburgh leads 12 of 23 categories
Peoria
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,068
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
113,054
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.4
Median Household Income
$60,187 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
303,843 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Peoria, IL
Pros
Rent averages $236/mo less ($917 vs $1,153)
Homes cost $25k less ($146,700 vs $171,800)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Pittsburgh
Cons
Violent crime (1344.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4284.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 5.7%)
Pittsburgh, PA
Pros
68% less violent crime than Peoria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 46.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.4)
Smaller class sizes — 11.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Snowy winters — about 44" of snow per year
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Peoria
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 94.4 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$25k less
$146,700 vs $171,800
Peoria
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 86.3°F vs 83.0°F
Pittsburgh
Median Income
$2,119
$60,187 vs $58,068/yr
Pittsburgh
Violent Crime
68% lower
427.2 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Pittsburgh
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.7% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, IL | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper | 94.4 |
| Median Home Value | $146,700 ✓ Lower | $171,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,153 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,068 | $60,187 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% | 17.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 354⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 11.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.5% | 46.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 93.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria SD 150 | Pittsburgh SD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.6°F | 36.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.7" ✓ Drier | 41.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.2" ✓ Less | 44.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,054 | 303,843 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 33.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 47.4% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% ✓ More | 14.6% |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 88.6 vs Pittsburgh's 94.4 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Pittsburgh leads 12 of 23 categories. Peoria wins 11 and Pittsburgh wins 12. 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 Pittsburgh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($146,700 vs $171,800 median home), income ($58,068 vs $60,187), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, IL and Pittsburgh, PA are about 506 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.