© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
Peoria.
About
Life in Peoria
Living here means trading big-city hustle for genuine affordability and a stable job market anchored by healthcare, heavy manufacturing, and agricultural research. With a median household income around $59,410 and median home values sitting near $156,200, you're looking at a cost of living that lets your paycheck actually stretch—rent averages $1,005 a month, which is genuinely manageable compared to most midwestern metros. The job landscape is diverse enough to matter: OSF HealthCare is now the top employer after becoming a major regional healthcare hub, Caterpillar still operates significant manufacturing and engineering operations here despite moving its headquarters in 2017 and 2022, and Komatsu has major operations too, with a brand-new office building going up through 2025.
Peoria at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
21.0%
Foreign-Born
10.1%
Broadband Internet
89.6%
of households
Population Growth
-2.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics10.1% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Peoria: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Peoria, the largest foreign-born group is from India (20.6%), and 4.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
24.4%
of residents
65 and Older
16.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
41.2%
of households
Married Couples
33.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.20
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 21% below IL average
Rent, home values, and income in Peoria
In Peoria, rent runs 21% below the IL average, and home values are 41% below the IL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
45.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
27.8%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
91.2
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,719
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
57.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1966
median year built
Vacant Homes
9.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $136,279 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts above IL average
Unemployment in Peoria
Unemployment in Peoria is 0.9 percentage points higher than the IL average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Peoria Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute17.9 min avg
How Peoria residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Peoria, most residents drive alone to work (75%), and 87% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport (PIA)
Regional airport · few flights401k passengers boarded in 2025
- 125 mi
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Major hub40.7M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 281% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Peoria runs 281% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
1,256
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,978.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Peoria Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 14 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
90.7 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Peoria County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Peoria County, which includes Peoria, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 14 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 17 | Hail | $10,000 |
| 2023 | 18 | Hail | None reported |
| 2022 | 13 | Hail | $50,000 |
| 2021 | 6 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2020 | 20 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.1M |
| 2019 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $80,000 |
| 2018 | 13 | Hail | $42,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Peoria County, county-wide
Air Quality45 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Peoria County, which includes Peoria, is typically good — 214 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
45
Good Days
214
per year
Moderate Days
139
per year
Unhealthy Days
2
per year
Peoria County, county-wide
Climate85°F summers, 21°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Peoria has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and cold winters (avg low 21°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
63°/42°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/64°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
65°/45°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
37°/21°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
39.7"
Annual Snowfall
26.2"
Hot Days/Year
23
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
118
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
130
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34°F | 18°F | 2.06" |
| Feb | 39°F | 21°F | 1.99" |
| Mar | 51°F | 32°F | 2.69" |
| Apr | 64°F | 42°F | 3.99" |
| May | 74°F | 53°F | 4.69" |
| Jun | 83°F | 62°F | 3.73" |
| Jul | 86°F | 66°F | 3.53" |
| Aug | 85°F | 64°F | 3.31" |
| Sep | 78°F | 56°F | 3.48" |
| Oct | 65°F | 44°F | 3.17" |
| Nov | 51°F | 33°F | 2.70" |
| Dec | 39°F | 23°F | 2.21" |
Healthcare3 hospitals, avg 2.3/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Peoria
Peoria has 3 hospitals, averaging 2.3 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — below-average care.
Hospitals
3
within city limits
Uninsured
6.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
2.3 / 5
Carle Health Proctor Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Saint Francis Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Carle Health Methodist Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Carle Health Pekin Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.1 mi away · Pekin
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.9:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Peoria
Peoria's student/teacher ratio is 15.9:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 37.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
37
within city limits
Private Schools
17
within city limits
College Degree Rate
37.7%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.9:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Peoria
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 3,574 students · in-state tuition $43,850 · 76% graduate · median earnings $76,013 (10 yrs after entry)
Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 273 students · in-state tuition $22,008 · 89% graduate · median earnings $80,384 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 245 students · in-state tuition $18,318 · 62% graduate · median earnings $71,324 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Lincoln Home National Historic Site, 66 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Peoria
Peoria has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Lincoln Home National Historic Site (66 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Lincoln Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
66 mi awaySpringfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
National Monument
66 mi awayPublic Libraries in Peoria
Peoria Public Library
107 Northeast Monroe Street, Peoria
Lakeview Branch Library
1137 West Lake Avenue, Peoria
Lincoln Branch Library
1312 West Lincoln Avenue, Peoria
Mcclure Branch Library
315 West Mcclure Avenue, Peoria
North Branch Library
3001 West Grand Parkway, Peoria
Cities Near Peoria
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Peoria?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Peoria FAQ
Is Peoria, Illinois affordable?⌄
Peoria's median rent is $1,005/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $59,410/year. Median home value is $156,200.
Is Peoria, Illinois safe?⌄
Peoria's violent crime rate was 1256 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3979 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Peoria, Illinois?⌄
Peoria has an unemployment rate of 5.5%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Peoria, Illinois?⌄
The cost of living in Peoria is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,005/month and median household income is $59,410/year. The median home value is $156,200. About 46% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Peoria, Illinois?⌄
The average commute in Peoria is 18 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from