Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, IL
VS
Renton, WA
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Renton
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $430k less ($146,700 vs $576,800)
Rent averages $947/mo less ($917 vs $1,864)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Renton by $34,224/yr
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 4.2%)
Renton, WA
Pros
75% less violent crime than Peoria
Households earn $34,224 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (4.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 34°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 86°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Peoria
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$430k less
$146,700 vs $576,800
Peoria
Summer Heat
9.1°F warmer
July avg high 86.3°F vs 77.2°F
Renton
Median Income
$34,224
$92,292 vs $58,068/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
75% lower
339.2 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Renton
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
4.2% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, IL | Renton, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $146,700 ✓ Lower | $576,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,864⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,068 | $92,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 354⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.5% ✓ Higher | 36.9% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 89.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria SD 150 | Renton School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.6°F | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.3°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.7" ✓ Drier | 44.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.2" | 6.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,054 ✓ Larger | 105,355 |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 36.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 53.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% ✓ More | 20.6% |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 12.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 88.6 vs Renton's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 14 of 23 categories. Peoria wins 14 and Renton 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 Renton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($146,700 vs $576,800 median home), income ($58,068 vs $92,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, IL and Renton, WA are about 1,668 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.