Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, IL
VS
South Gate, CA
🏆 Peoria leads 14 of 23 categories
Peoria
Illinois
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,068
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
113,054 ✓ Larger
South Gate
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
92,381
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $432k less ($146,700 vs $578,900)
Rent averages $483/mo less ($917 vs $1,400)
27% cheaper overall cost of living than South Gate
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
Cons
Violent crime (1344.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails South Gate by $9,120/yr
Property crime (4284.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
South Gate, CA
Pros
61% less violent crime than Peoria
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 34°F
Households earn $9,120 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Peoria
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$432k less
$146,700 vs $578,900
Peoria
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 86.3°F vs 82.0°F
South Gate
Median Income
$9,120
$67,188 vs $58,068/yr
South Gate
Violent Crime
61% lower
525.6 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, IL | South Gate, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $146,700 ✓ Lower | $578,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,400⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,068 | $67,188 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 7.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 354⚠ High | 138⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.5% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 58.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria SD 150 | Westbrook Academy District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.6°F | 68.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.7" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,054 ✓ Larger | 92,381 |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 88.6 vs South Gate's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 14 of 23 categories. Peoria wins 14 and South Gate wins 9. 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 South Gate or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($146,700 vs $578,900 median home), income ($58,068 vs $67,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, IL and South Gate, CA are about 1,630 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.