Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, IL
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Spokane Valley leads 13 of 23 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
Spokane Valley
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,483 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
103,761
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $161k less ($146,700 vs $307,700)
Rent averages $258/mo less ($917 vs $1,175)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane Valley
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1344.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Spokane Valley by $8,415/yr
Property crime (4284.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 5.8%)
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
82% less violent crime than Peoria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.8%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $8,415 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $307,700
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Peoria
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$161k less
$146,700 vs $307,700
Spokane Valley
Median Income
$8,415
$66,483 vs $58,068/yr
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
82% lower
242.1 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Spokane Valley
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, IL | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $146,700 ✓ Lower | $307,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,175 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,068 | $66,483 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 20.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 354⚠ High | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 167⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.5% ✓ Higher | 25.3% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria SD 150 | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.6°F | 37.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.3°F | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.7" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.2" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,054 ✓ Larger | 103,761 |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 37.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.8% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 17.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 88.6 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane Valley leads 13 of 23 categories. Peoria wins 10 and Spokane Valley wins 13. 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 Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($146,700 vs $307,700 median home), income ($58,068 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, IL and Spokane Valley, WA are about 1,440 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.