Is Peoria cheaper than Dallas?

Yes. Typical rent in Peoria is $1,039 a month versus $1,931 in Dallas — 46% cheaper. Median household income is $58,068 in Peoria compared with $63,985 in Dallas, so Dallas has the stronger local pay picture.

Which city is safer, Peoria or Dallas?

Peoria is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 86 versus 109 in Dallas — 21% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.

Which city has better schools, Peoria or Dallas?

School composites are close: A- in Peoria and A- in Dallas. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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City comparison

Peoria, IL vs Dallas, TX

Peoria, IL versus Dallas, TX is a real move, not a trivia matchup. This comparison uses the same 2026 neighborhood report data we publish on each city page — typical rent, median household income, crime indexes, school composites, and typical weather — so you can see which city actually fits how you live, work, and spend. Typical rents sit near $1,039 a month in Peoria and $1,931 in Dallas, and median household income lands at $58,068 versus $63,985. Open either city's full report when you want the block-level detail behind these headlines.

Peoria takes affordability, safety, and weather, while Dallas takes job market. The widest gap is typical weather, where Peoria leads by 122% — the kind of spread you feel in a monthly budget or a nightly walk, not just on a chart. Read the category rows as a filter: if cheaper housing would change your life more than a stronger job market, weight rent first. If you are moving with kids, weight schools and crime. If you picked a city after one good weekend, use the weather and income rows to test whether that weekend survives a full year.

Numbers below are citywide, not a guarantee about the street you will actually live on. Two ZIP codes in Peoria can feel further apart than Peoria and Dallas do on paper. Use this page to pick a city, then use the Peoria and Dallas reports to pick a neighborhood — and visit in the season you like least before you sign anything.

Full Peoria report Full Dallas report

Peoria, IL

Rent: $1,039/mo
Median income: $58,068
Crime index: 86
Schools: A-
Weather: 70°F

Dallas, TX

Rent: $1,931/mo
Median income: $63,985
Crime index: 109
Schools: A-
Weather: 92°F

Rent

46% cheaper

Peoria rent is 46% cheaper than Dallas

Peoria

Winner

$1,039/mo

Dallas

$1,931/mo

What this means for your life

Typical rent runs $1,039 a month in Peoria versus $1,931 in Dallas, so Peoria is 46% cheaper. That's roughly $892/month back in your pocket — $10,704/year. Over five years that's $53,520 you could redirect toward a down payment, travel, or investments. Housing is the bill you pay before groceries, childcare, or a social life, so that gap shows up in how often you eat out and how panicked a rent hike feels. If you already have a high-paying offer in Dallas, the extra rent can be rational. If you do not, Peoria is the easier city to land in without blowing up your budget.

Median income

10% higher

Dallas's median income is 10% higher than Peoria

Peoria

$58,068

Dallas

Winner

$63,985

What this means for your life

Median household income is $63,985 in Dallas versus $58,068 in Peoria, so typical pay runs 10% higher in Dallas — about $5,917 more household income a year. The income edge is modest. Treat it as extra negotiating context, not a reason to ignore rent, schools, or climate. Remote workers especially should not treat citywide pay as a personal raise if their employer will not localize salary.

Crime index

21% lower crime

Peoria's crime index is 21% lower than Dallas

Peoria

Winner

86 (100 = avg)

Dallas

109 (100 = avg)

What this means for your life

Peoria's crime index is 86 versus 109 in Dallas (100 = national average), so citywide crime runs 21% lower in Peoria. That gap is meaningful day-to-day — it affects whether you feel comfortable walking at night, leaving your car on the street, or letting kids play outside unsupervised. Indexes still compress a lot of reality: a calmer city has blocks you would skip, and a higher-crime city has streets that feel neighborly at 10 p.m. On the everyday test of walking from the car to the door, Peoria is the easier city. Dallas can still work if you pick the right pocket — just budget more diligence before you sign a lease.

School scores

Neck and neck

Peoria and Dallas are about even on school scores.

Peoria

A- · 84/100

Dallas

A- · 84/100

What this means for your life

School composites are effectively even (A- in Peoria, A- in Dallas). For families with kids this is a warning if you assumed one city was obviously better — at this range the campus, not the city name, decides it. Tour the zoned elementary you would actually use.

Typical weather

122% more comfortable

Peoria weather is 122% more comfortable than Dallas

Peoria

Winner

70°F typical

Dallas

92°F typical

What this means for your life

Peoria scores 122% more comfortable on this page's weather index, which rewards temperatures closer to a livable outdoor day. Typical temperatures sit around 70°F in Peoria and 92°F in Dallas. Peoria reads as mild, livable temperatures; Dallas reads as hot, long summers. Climate affects quality of life more than most people anticipate when planning a move. Consider how much time you spend outdoors and whether extreme heat or cold impacts your mood or productivity. Peoria is the better default if you want year-round outdoor access. Dallas can still be right if you love that climate on purpose — beach heat, dry heat, or a real winter — but you cannot return a city's weather.

Fit check

Who should choose Peoria

Outdoor enthusiasts and people who need year-round access to nature for their wellbeing

Peoria is the clearer landing pad if housing cost is what keeps you up at night. Typical rent is 46% cheaper here at about $1,039 a month. Choose Peoria if you are stretching a salary, starting over, or want slack for travel and debt instead of a flashier skyline.

Pick Peoria if you are an outdoor enthusiast or you need year-round access to nature for your wellbeing. Typical conditions (70°F) beat Dallas on this page's weather index by 122%. Dallas may pay more or cost less, but Peoria is the city where the forecast fights you less.

Peoria is the better fit for families with young children and retirees who prioritize peace of mind over urban energy. The crime index is 21% lower than Dallas (86 vs a 100 national average). That gap shows up in how freely you walk at night and how much attention you spend on the car and the deadbolt.

Open the Peoria report →

Fit check

Who should choose Dallas

Career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth

Dallas is the better city for career-focused movers who want salary upside and professional growth. Median household income is 10% higher here ($63,985). Start with Dallas if your next chapter is about building earnings, and make weather or nightlife a secondary screen.

Open the Dallas report →

Bottom line

Peoria vs Dallas, called

If weather is your priority, Peoria is the clear choice.

If the job market matters more to you, Dallas pulls ahead.

For most movers comparing these two cities, Peoria offers the better overall package.

Common questions

Peoria vs Dallas FAQ

Is Peoria cheaper than Dallas?: Yes. Typical rent in Peoria is $1,039 a month versus $1,931 in Dallas — 46% cheaper. Median household income is $58,068 in Peoria compared with $63,985 in Dallas, so Dallas has the stronger local pay picture.
Which city is safer, Peoria or Dallas?: Peoria is safer on this comparison. Its crime index is 86 versus 109 in Dallas — 21% lower (100 is the national average). Citywide indexes still hide neighborhood variation, so walk the block you would actually rent.
Which city has better schools, Peoria or Dallas?: School composites are close: A- in Peoria and A- in Dallas. Tour specific campuses rather than picking a city on the letter grade alone.

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