Relocation profile · Federal data
Peoria, IL
LiveAbility 61.1/100 places Peoria #42 of 387 (top third of scored metros).
- 91.2
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,039
- 2BR rent / mo
- $67,453
- Median salary
- 61.1
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Peoria ranks #42 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (61.1/100), with its strongest marks in housing and cost of living.
- #42
- of 387 US metros · Excellent
- 12,710,158
- metro-area population
- 277
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 3,845
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: low hazard (26/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Peoria ranks #42 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 91.2 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,039/mo, median salary $67,453; LiveAbility Score 61.1/100, strongest in housing and cost of living.
Signature: LiveAbility 61.1/100 places Peoria #42 of 387 (top third of scored metros).
Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 91.2 lands in the cheaper third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,039/mo.
LiveAbility 61.1/100 puts Peoria in the top third (#42 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Peoria area is 158,390.
Peoria vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
61 Top 11% higher than 89% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Peoria housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Peoria MSA; housing RPP 63.8 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,039/mo.
Peoria wages and employment
Peoria posts 158,390 total employment with median salary $67,453 against a cheaper-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | $81,010 |
| General and Operations Managers | $98,290 |
| Cashiers | $31,200 |
| Retail Salespersons | $33,870 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $35,870 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Peoria area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Peoria area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Peoria's composite Life Score is 60.1/100 (C), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Peoria ranks #42 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 61.1/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Peoria - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Housing
Housing
90 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
68 /100
- Job market
Job market
68 /100
- Safety
Safety
64 /100
- Schools
Schools
59 /100
- Air quality
Air quality
47 /100
- Climate
Climate
41 /100
- Low hazard 26
Low hazard
26 /100
What this shows Peoria's strongest dimensions are housing and cost of living; its weakest among scored dims is low hazard at 26/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Peoria to
Metros near Peoria on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Peoria on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Peoria cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Peoria wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Peoria?
Peoria runs a $67,453 median salary at a 91.2 cost index, ranking #42 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Peoria's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Peoria head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Peoria
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.