Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, IL
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 16 of 22 categories
Peoria
Illinois
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,068
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
113,054 ✓ Larger
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0
Median Household Income
$78,978 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
104,351
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $100k less ($146,700 vs $246,700)
Rent averages $440/mo less ($917 vs $1,357)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 96°F
Cons
Median income trails Rio Rancho by $20,910/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 5.5%)
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
76% less violent crime than Peoria
Households earn $20,910 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 34°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,357/mo
Longer commutes — 28.5 min average each way
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Peoria
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 93.0 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$100k less
$146,700 vs $246,700
Rio Rancho
Median Income
$20,910
$78,978 vs $58,068/yr
Rio Rancho
Violent Crime
76% lower
318.2 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Rio Rancho
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.0% unemployment
Rio Rancho
Summer Heat
9.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 86.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, IL | Rio Rancho, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper | 93.0 |
| Median Home Value | $146,700 ✓ Lower | $246,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,357⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,068 | $78,978 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 354⚠ High | 84 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | B+ (107) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.5% ✓ Higher | 33.2% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria SD 150 | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.6°F | 49.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.3°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.7" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.2" | 9.3" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,054 ✓ Larger | 104,351 |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 39.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 88.6 vs Rio Rancho's 93.0 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 16 of 22 categories. Peoria wins 6 and Rio Rancho wins 16. 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 Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($146,700 vs $246,700 median home), income ($58,068 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, IL and Rio Rancho, NM are about 1,001 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.