Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, IL
VS
Seattle, WA
🏆 Seattle leads 12 of 23 categories
Peoria
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,068
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
113,054
Seattle
Washington
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$116,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
204⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
734,603 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $733k less ($146,700 vs $879,900)
Rent averages $1028/mo less ($917 vs $1,945)
24% cheaper overall cost of living than Seattle
Commutes run 10 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 Seattle by $58,000/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 4.2%)
Seattle, WA
Pros
Households earn $58,000 more per year on average
42% less violent crime than Peoria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (4.2%)
More college-educated — 66.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 34°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 86°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $879,900
Higher rents — median is $1,945/mo
Violent crime (775.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 24% higher than Peoria
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Cost of Living
24% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$733k less
$146,700 vs $879,900
Peoria
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 86.3°F vs 76.5°F
Seattle
Median Income
$58,000
$116,068 vs $58,068/yr
Seattle
Violent Crime
42% lower
775.1 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Seattle
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
4.2% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, IL | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $146,700 ✓ Lower | $879,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,945⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,068 | $116,068 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% | 27.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 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 | 204⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High ✓ Safer | 238⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.5% | 66.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 95.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria SD 150 | Seattle School District No. 1 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.6°F | 47.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.3°F ✓ Warmer | 76.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.7" | 38.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.2" | 3.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,054 | 734,603 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 44.5% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% ✓ More | 14.0% |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 88.6 vs Seattle's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 24% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Seattle leads 12 of 23 categories. Peoria wins 11 and Seattle 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 Seattle or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($146,700 vs $879,900 median home), income ($58,068 vs $116,068), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, IL and Seattle, WA are about 1,676 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.