Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, IL
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Peoria leads 13 of 23 categories
Peoria
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
113,054
Rockford
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.1
Median Household Income
$50,744
Violent Crime Index
284⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
148,173 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Peoria, IL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (8.0%)
Households earn $7,324 more per year on average
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Rockford, IL
Pros
20% less violent crime than Peoria
Homes cost $33k less ($114,100 vs $146,700)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cons
Violent crime (1080.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Peoria by $7,324/yr
Property crime (2517.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 8.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 90.1 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Income
$7,324
$58,068 vs $50,744/yr
Peoria
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
8.0% vs 9.0% unemployment
Rockford
Violent Crime
20% lower
1080.0 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Rockford
Median Home Value
$33k less
$114,100 vs $146,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, IL | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper | 90.1 |
| Median Home Value | $146,700 | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,068 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 21.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 218⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 354⚠ High | 284⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 120⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.5% ✓ Higher | 23.1% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria SD 150 | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.6°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.7" | 38.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.2" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,054 | 148,173 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 54.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 17.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 88.6 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 13 of 23 categories. Peoria wins 13 and Rockford wins 10. 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 Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($146,700 vs $114,100 median home), income ($58,068 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, IL and Rockford, IL are about 108 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.