Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, IL
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield leads 15 of 23 categories
Peoria
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,068
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
113,054
Springfield
Illinois
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5
Median Household Income
$62,419 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,214 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Peoria, IL
Pros
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
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 6.6%)
Median income trails Springfield by $4,351/yr
Springfield, IL
Pros
33% less violent crime than Peoria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.6%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Households earn $4,351 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (901.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4911.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 90.5 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Income
$4,351
$62,419 vs $58,068/yr
Springfield
Violent Crime
33% lower
901.2 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Springfield
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, IL | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper | 90.5 |
| Median Home Value | $146,700 ✓ Lower | $147,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,068 | $62,419 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 17.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 236⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 354⚠ High | 237⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.5% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria SD 150 | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.6°F | 35.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.3°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.7" ✓ Drier | 40.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.2" | 21.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,054 | 114,214 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.8% ✓ More | 21.6% |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 88.6 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 15 of 23 categories. Peoria wins 8 and Springfield wins 15. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($146,700 vs $147,700 median home), income ($58,068 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, IL and Springfield, IL are about 66 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.