Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, IL
VS
Tulsa, OK
🏆 Peoria leads 13 of 22 categories
Peoria
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
113,054
Tulsa
Oklahoma
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5
Median Household Income
$56,648
Violent Crime Index
248⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
411,938 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $28k less ($146,700 vs $174,200)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.0:1 student-teacher ratio
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 5.8%)
Tulsa, OK
Pros
30% less violent crime than Peoria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.8%)
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 34°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.5)
Cons
Violent crime (941.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3627.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 89.5 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Income
$1,420
$58,068 vs $56,648/yr
Peoria
Median Home Value
$28k less
$146,700 vs $174,200
Tulsa
Violent Crime
30% lower
941.9 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Tulsa
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.0% unemployment
Tulsa
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 86.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, IL | Tulsa, OK |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper | 89.5 |
| Median Home Value | $146,700 ✓ Lower | $174,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $958 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,068 ✓ Higher | $56,648 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 18.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 218⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 354⚠ High | 248⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.5% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 88.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria SD 150 | TULSA |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.6°F | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.3°F | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.7" ✓ Drier | 44.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.2" | 8.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,054 | 411,938 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 52.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% | 24.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 88.6 vs Tulsa's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Peoria leads 13 of 22 categories. Peoria wins 13 and Tulsa wins 9. 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 Tulsa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($146,700 vs $174,200 median home), income ($58,068 vs $56,648), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, IL and Tulsa, OK are about 466 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.