Peoria vs Topeka
The short version
- Topeka is cheaper overall: prices in its metro run 3% lower than in the Peoria area (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $144,200 in Topeka and $156,200 in Peoria.
- Topeka has the warmer winter: January highs of 40°F vs 34°F.
- Peoria gets far more snow: 26 inches a year vs 17.
- Topeka has more scorching days: 50 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 23.
Side by side
| Peoria, IL | Topeka, KS | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 110,920 | 125,795 |
| Growth since 2020 | -2% | -0.6% |
| People per square mile | 2,305 | 2,032 |
| Median age | 35.5 | 38.0 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38% | 29% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $59,410 | $56,956 |
| Median home value | $156,200 | $144,200 |
| Home value to income | 2.6× | 2.5× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,005 | $979 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 91.2 | 88.8 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 63.8 | 65.0 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $68,400 | $66,600 |
| Homeowners | 58% | 59% |
| Top state income tax | 4.95% | 5.58% |
| Combined sales tax | 8.98% | 8.71% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 17.9 | 16.7 |
| Work from home | 12% | 11% |
| Take public transit | 2% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 7.5% | 4.9% |
| Poverty rate | 21% | 15.7% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 34° / 18° | 40° / 20° |
| July high / low | 86° / 66° | 90° / 69° |
| Precipitation per year | 38 in | 37 in |
| Snowfall per year | 26 in | 17 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 23 | 50 |
| Nights below freezing | 118 | 114 |
| Comfortable months | 5 | 3 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 90.7 | 88.0 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 60% | 64% |
| Home prices, past year | +3.7% | +5.6% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +44.6% | +47.6% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Peoria: April, June and August to October. Topeka: April and September to October.
Full monthly tables: Peoria weather by month and Topeka weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $68,400 in Peoria and $66,600 in Topeka. Moving from Peoria to Topeka, you would need about $73,000 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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