Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, IL
VS
San Bernardino, 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
San Bernardino
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,323 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
236⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
221,041 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $200k less ($146,700 vs $347,100)
Rent averages $402/mo less ($917 vs $1,319)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than San Bernardino
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
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
Median income trails San Bernardino by $3,255/yr
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
33% less violent crime than Peoria
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 34°F
Households earn $3,255 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,100
Violent crime (897.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Peoria
Property crime (2897.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$200k less
$146,700 vs $347,100
San Bernardino
Median Income
$3,255
$61,323 vs $58,068/yr
San Bernardino
Violent Crime
33% lower
897.1 vs 1344.9 per 100k
San Bernardino
Summer Heat
9.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.4°F vs 86.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, IL | San Bernardino, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $146,700 ✓ Lower | $347,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,319 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,068 | $61,323 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 7.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% ✓ Higher | 5.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 197⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 354⚠ High | 236⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.5% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria SD 150 | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.6°F | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.3°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.7" | 21.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,054 | 221,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 88.6 vs San Bernardino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 12 of 23 categories. Peoria wins 12 and San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($146,700 vs $347,100 median home), income ($58,068 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, IL and San Bernardino, CA are about 1,578 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.