Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, IL
VS
St. Paul, MN
🏆 Peoria leads 12 of 23 categories
Peoria
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,068
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
113,054
St. Paul
Minnesota
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,919 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
308,806 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $118k less ($146,700 vs $264,900)
Rent averages $257/mo less ($917 vs $1,174)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than St. Paul
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
Milder winters — January highs near 34°F vs 24°F
Cons
Violent crime (1344.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails St. Paul by $11,851/yr
Property crime (4284.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 5.0%)
St. Paul, MN
Pros
54% less violent crime than Peoria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (5.0%)
Households earn $11,851 more per year on average
More college-educated — 42.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (617.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Peoria
Property crime (2834.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 40" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$118k less
$146,700 vs $264,900
Peoria
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 86.3°F vs 82.6°F
St. Paul
Median Income
$11,851
$69,919 vs $58,068/yr
St. Paul
Violent Crime
54% lower
617.7 vs 1344.9 per 100k
St. Paul
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, IL | St. Paul, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $146,700 ✓ Lower | $264,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,174 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,068 | $69,919 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 23.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% | 15.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 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 | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B+ (104) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.5% | 42.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 88.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria SD 150 | Saint Paul Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.6°F ✓ Warmer | 23.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.7" | 29.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.2" ✓ Less | 40.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,054 | 308,806 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 33.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 53.0% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 88.6 vs St. Paul's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 12 of 23 categories. Peoria wins 12 and St. Paul wins 11. 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 St. Paul or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($146,700 vs $264,900 median home), income ($58,068 vs $69,919), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, IL and St. Paul, MN are about 339 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.