Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, IL
VS
Sacramento, CA
🏆 Peoria leads 12 of 23 categories
Peoria
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,068
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
113,054
Sacramento
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $304k less ($146,700 vs $450,500)
Rent averages $675/mo less ($917 vs $1,592)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Sacramento
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Sacramento by $20,886/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 6.3%)
Sacramento, CA
Pros
44% less violent crime than Peoria
Households earn $20,886 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (6.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 34°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Peoria
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$304k less
$146,700 vs $450,500
Sacramento
Median Income
$20,886
$78,954 vs $58,068/yr
Sacramento
Violent Crime
44% lower
754.9 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Sacramento
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
6.3% vs 8.0% unemployment
Sacramento
Summer Heat
8.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 86.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, IL | Sacramento, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper | 108.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $146,700 ✓ Lower | $450,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,592⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,068 | $78,954 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 25.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 354⚠ High | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 121⚠ 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 | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.5% ✓ Higher | 35.8% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 86.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria SD 150 | Sacramento City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.6°F | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.3°F | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.7" | 20.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,054 | 523,600 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 35.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 50.7% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% ✓ More | 22.0% |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 88.6 vs Sacramento's 108.9 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 12 of 23 categories. Peoria wins 12 and Sacramento wins 11. 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 Sacramento or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($146,700 vs $450,500 median home), income ($58,068 vs $78,954), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, IL and Sacramento, CA are about 1,692 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.