Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, IL
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 San Mateo leads 12 of 22 categories
Peoria
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,068
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
113,054 ✓ Larger
San Mateo
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
104,165
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $1362k less ($146,700 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $2054/mo less ($917 vs $2,971)
30% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Commutes run 11 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 San Mateo by $91,084/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 4.7%)
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $91,084 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than Peoria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (4.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 34°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Cost of living runs 30% higher than Peoria
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Cost of Living
30% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$1362k less
$146,700 vs $1,508,900
Peoria
Summer Heat
13.7°F warmer
July avg high 86.3°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$91,084
$149,152 vs $58,068/yr
San Mateo
Violent Crime
82% lower
243.2 vs 1344.9 per 100k
San Mateo
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
4.7% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, IL | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $146,700 ✓ Lower | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,068 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 354⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 90 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.5% | 58.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria SD 150 | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.6°F | 58.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.3°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.7" | 19.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,054 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 16.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 88.6 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 30% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, San Mateo leads 12 of 22 categories. Peoria wins 10 and San Mateo wins 12. 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 Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($146,700 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($58,068 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, IL and San Mateo, CA are about 1,755 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.