Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, IL
VS
Port St. Lucie, FL
🏆 Port St. Lucie 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
Port St. Lucie
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
31 ✓ Safer
Population
210,520 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $146k less ($146,700 vs $292,900)
Rent averages $767/mo less ($917 vs $1,684)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Port St. Lucie
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
Cons
Violent crime (1344.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Port St. Lucie by $16,972/yr
Property crime (4284.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 5.7%)
Port St. Lucie, FL
Pros
91% less violent crime than Peoria
Households earn $16,972 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (116.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 34°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,684/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Peoria
Longer commutes — 29.2 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 101.7 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$146k less
$146,700 vs $292,900
Port St. Lucie
Median Income
$16,972
$75,040 vs $58,068/yr
Port St. Lucie
Violent Crime
91% lower
116.7 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Port St. Lucie
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.7% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, IL | Port St. Lucie, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper | 101.7⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $146,700 ✓ Lower | $292,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,684⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,068 | $75,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 29.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 33 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 354⚠ High | 31 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 36 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.5% ✓ Higher | 26.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 90.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria SD 150 | ST. LUCIE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.6°F | 73.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.3°F | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.7" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,054 | 210,520 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 43.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 82.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.8% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 21.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 88.6 vs Port St. Lucie's 101.7 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Port St. Lucie leads 12 of 23 categories. Peoria wins 11 and Port St. Lucie 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 Port St. Lucie or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($146,700 vs $292,900 median home), income ($58,068 vs $75,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, IL and Port St. Lucie, FL are about 1,069 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.