Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Peoria, IL
VS
Worcester, MA
🏆 Peoria leads 15 of 21 categories
Peoria
Illinois
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
88.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,068
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
113,054
Worcester
Massachusetts
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,011 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
4 ✓ Safer
Population
204,191 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Peoria, IL
Pros
Homes cost $159k less ($146,700 vs $305,600)
Rent averages $395/mo less ($917 vs $1,312)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Worcester
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 88.6)
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
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 6.6%)
Median income trails Worcester by $4,943/yr
Worcester, MA
Pros
99% less violent crime than Peoria
Violent crime is well below the national average (16.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.6%)
Households earn $4,943 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 86°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $305,600
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Peoria
Snowy winters — about 73" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Peoria
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 88.6 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Peoria
Median Home Value
$159k less
$146,700 vs $305,600
Peoria
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 86.3°F vs 79.8°F
Worcester
Median Income
$4,943
$63,011 vs $58,068/yr
Worcester
Violent Crime
99% lower
16.5 vs 1344.9 per 100k
Worcester
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Peoria, IL | Worcester, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 88.6 ✓ Cheaper | 103.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $146,700 ✓ Lower | $305,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,312 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,068 | $63,011 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter | 24.4 min |
| Work From Home % | 9.2% | 9.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 354⚠ High | 4 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B+ (106) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.5% ✓ Higher | 33.1% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 85.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Peoria SD 150 | Worcester |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.6°F ✓ Warmer | 32.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.3°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.7" ✓ Drier | 48.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 26.2" ✓ Less | 72.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,054 | 204,191 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 ✓ Older | 34.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.5% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Peoria's cost of living index is 88.6 vs Worcester's 103.8 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Peoria leads 15 of 21 categories. Peoria wins 15 and Worcester wins 6. 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 Worcester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($146,700 vs $305,600 median home), income ($58,068 vs $63,011), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Peoria, IL and Worcester, MA are about 926 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.