Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, IL
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Peoria leads 16 of 23 categories
Peoria
Illinois
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,068 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
113,054
Waterbury
Connecticut
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
114,480 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Peoria, IL
Pros
Rent averages $223/mo less ($917 vs $1,140)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (8.0%)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $6,617 more per year on average
Homes cost $16k less ($146,700 vs $162,800)
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
Waterbury, CT
Pros
76% less violent crime than Peoria
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Peoria by $6,617/yr
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 8.0%)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Peoria
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 95.1 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Income
$6,617
$58,068 vs $51,451/yr
Peoria
Median Home Value
$16k less
$146,700 vs $162,800
Peoria
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
8.0% vs 9.8% unemployment
Waterbury
Violent Crime
76% lower
322.5 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, IL | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper | 95.1 |
| Median Home Value | $146,700 ✓ Lower | $162,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,140 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,068 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 354⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.5% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria SD 150 | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.6°F | 37.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.3°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.7" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.2" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,054 | 114,480 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 36.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 88.6 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Peoria leads 16 of 23 categories. Peoria wins 16 and Waterbury wins 7. 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 Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($146,700 vs $162,800 median home), income ($58,068 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, IL and Waterbury, CT are about 863 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.