Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, IL
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 Peoria leads 14 of 23 categories
Peoria
Illinois
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,068
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
113,054
Providence
Rhode Island
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,365 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
189,715 ✓ 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 $293,000)
Rent averages $297/mo less ($917 vs $1,214)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Providence
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 7.2%)
Median income trails Providence by $3,297/yr
Providence, RI
Pros
79% less violent crime than Peoria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (7.2%)
Households earn $3,297 more per year on average
Cons
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Peoria
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 100.9 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$146k less
$146,700 vs $293,000
Providence
Median Income
$3,297
$61,365 vs $58,068/yr
Providence
Violent Crime
79% lower
276.7 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Providence
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
7.2% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, IL | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper | 100.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $146,700 ✓ Lower | $293,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,214 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,068 | $61,365 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 7.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 24.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% | 11.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 354⚠ High | 73 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.5% ✓ Higher | 34.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 82.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria SD 150 | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.6°F | 38.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.7" ✓ Drier | 47.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.2" ✓ Less | 36.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,054 | 189,715 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% ✓ More | 20.7% |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 88.6 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 14 of 23 categories. Peoria wins 14 and Providence wins 9. 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($146,700 vs $293,000 median home), income ($58,068 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, IL and Providence, RI are about 946 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.