Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, IL
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington 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
Wilmington
North Carolina
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$58,908 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,933 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $172k less ($146,700 vs $318,600)
Rent averages $296/mo less ($917 vs $1,213)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Wilmington
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 4.9%)
Wilmington, NC
Pros
64% less violent crime than Peoria
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (4.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 34°F
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $318,600
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Peoria
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$172k less
$146,700 vs $318,600
Wilmington
Median Income
$840
$58,908 vs $58,068/yr
Wilmington
Violent Crime
64% lower
482.8 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Wilmington
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
4.9% vs 8.0% unemployment
Wilmington
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 86.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, IL | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $146,700 ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,213 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,068 | $58,908 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 18.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 354⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 167⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.5% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria SD 150 | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.6°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.3°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.7" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.2" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,054 | 116,933 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 37.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 88.6 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 15 of 23 categories. Peoria wins 8 and Wilmington 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 Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($146,700 vs $318,600 median home), income ($58,068 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, IL and Wilmington, NC are about 785 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.