Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, IL
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories
Peoria
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
113,054
Springfield
Missouri
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
168,873 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Peoria, IL
Pros
Households earn $14,618 more per year on average
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
Property crime (4284.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 4.8%)
Springfield, MO
Pros
12% less violent crime than Peoria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 43°F vs 34°F
Cons
Median income trails Peoria by $14,618/yr
Violent crime (1178.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4184.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 89.3 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Income
$14,618
$58,068 vs $43,450/yr
Springfield
Violent Crime
12% lower
1178.1 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Springfield
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.8% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, IL | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper | 89.3 |
| Median Home Value | $146,700 | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,068 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 18.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 266⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 354⚠ High | 310⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.5% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria SD 150 | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.6°F | 43.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.3°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.7" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.2" | 13.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,054 | 168,873 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 33.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 15.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 88.6 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories. Peoria wins 11 and Springfield 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($146,700 vs $146,400 median home), income ($58,068 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, IL and Springfield, MO are about 315 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.