Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, IL
VS
Spokane, WA
🏆 Spokane 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
Spokane
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,316 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
227,922 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $140k less ($146,700 vs $286,900)
Rent averages $143/mo less ($917 vs $1,060)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 6.2%)
Median income trails Spokane by $5,248/yr
Spokane, WA
Pros
50% less violent crime than Peoria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (6.2%)
Households earn $5,248 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Peoria
Property crime (4840.8/100k) 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
$140k less
$146,700 vs $286,900
Spokane
Median Income
$5,248
$63,316 vs $58,068/yr
Spokane
Violent Crime
50% lower
674.9 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Spokane
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, IL | Spokane, 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 | $286,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,060 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,068 | $63,316 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 20.7 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% | 12.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 354⚠ High | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (101) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.5% ✓ Higher | 32.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria SD 150 | Spokane School District |
| 🌤 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 | 227,922 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.8% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 16.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 88.6 vs Spokane's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Spokane leads 13 of 23 categories. Peoria wins 10 and Spokane 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 or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($146,700 vs $286,900 median home), income ($58,068 vs $63,316), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, IL and Spokane, WA are about 1,449 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.