CountyScore

Peoria County

Illinois · IL

#91 in Illinois
56
County Score

County Report Card

About Peoria County, Illinois

Peoria trails national benchmark

Peoria County scores 55.6, roughly in line with the national median of 50.0 but representing the lowest score in this eight-county cohort. This suggests livability challenges compared to peer regions across the country.

Notably below Illinois average

Peoria's score of 55.6 trails Illinois's statewide average of 62.1 by more than 6 points, ranking it in the lower tier of state counties. This gap signals meaningful livability disadvantages relative to most Illinois communities.

Modest affordability in housing

Peoria's cost score of 75.2 reflects reasonable housing affordability with a median home value of $152,600 and rent of $946 monthly. These prices remain accessible to working families, even as other livability factors lag.

Higher taxes and lower incomes

Peoria's tax score of 39.3 reflects the highest effective tax rate in the cohort at 2.239%, while the income score of 25.8 and median household income of $64,938 rank among the lowest. This combination—high taxes plus low earnings—creates significant household budget pressure.

For those with limited options

Peoria County suits those already rooted in the community or those accepting trade-offs for proximity to urban services and employment. It demands careful financial planning given the combination of relatively higher taxes and lower incomes.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax39.3Cost75.2SafetyComing SoonHealth72.6SchoolsComing SoonIncome25.8Risk9.3WaterComing Soon
🏛39.3
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠75.2
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼25.8
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤72.6
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡9.3
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Peoria County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Napa County
California
56
Median income: $108,970
Montgomery County
New York
56
Median income: $62,923
Bastrop County
Texas
56
Median income: $82,730
Anchorage Municipality
Alaska
55.9
Median income: $98,152
Santa Cruz County
California
56.1
Median income: $109,266

Deep Dives

Peoria County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Peoria County

via TaxByCounty

Peoria County taxes rank among the nation's highest

Peoria County's effective tax rate of 2.239% substantially exceeds the national median of 1.831%, placing it well above the 75th percentile nationwide. On a home valued at $281,900, this rate would yield $6,318 in annual taxes—more than double the national median.

Peoria ranks as one of Illinois's costliest counties

Peoria County's 2.239% effective rate stands well above Illinois's state average of 1.831%, making it among the highest-taxed counties in the state. With a median tax of $3,416 on homes valued at $152,600, Peoria residents carry a substantial burden.

Peoria taxes far exceed all surrounding counties

Peoria's 2.239% rate dwarfs every nearby county—Menard (1.637%), Montgomery (1.720%), and Ogle (2.030%). On a $160,000 home, Peoria residents pay roughly $900–$1,000 annually more than homeowners in neighboring jurisdictions.

Peoria homeowners pay the region's highest taxes

The median $152,600 home in Peoria County generates $3,416 in annual property taxes. With mortgage-related charges, homeowners face a total annual liability of approximately $3,721.

Peoria residents should prioritize assessment appeals

Given Peoria County's highest-in-region tax rates, homeowners should verify their assessments are defensible. Challenging an overvaluation through a formal appeal offers the greatest potential savings for residents in this high-tax county.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Peoria County

via CostByCounty

Peoria struggles with affordability

Peoria County's median household income of $64,938 trails the U.S. median by $9,817, while its 17.5% rent-to-income ratio significantly exceeds the national benchmark of roughly 15%. This combination—lower incomes paired with above-average rents—creates affordability strain.

Peoria's affordability crisis ranks statewide

Peoria County's 17.5% rent-to-income ratio badly exceeds Illinois's 14.7% state average, even as median rents of $946 run above the state's $837 standard. Peoria renters face the steepest housing cost burden in this comparison.

Peoria rents spike despite lower incomes

Peoria's $946 median rent matches or exceeds wealthier neighbors like Ogle ($901) and Menard ($780), yet Peoria households earn substantially less ($64,938 vs. $79,244 and $81,334 respectively). This mismatch between rents and incomes creates acute affordability challenges.

Housing consumes Peoria paychecks

Peoria residents dedicate 17.5% of income to rent and 19.5% to owner costs—the highest allocations in this comparison, totaling over one-third of household income. A $1,057/month mortgage on a $152,600 home strains county earners significantly.

Peoria demands financial care

Peoria County presents real affordability challenges—research thoroughly before relocating here unless employment opportunity justifies the housing cost burden. Compare Peoria's stretched ratios to more balanced counties like Moultrie or Mercer to assess the trade-off.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Peoria County

via IncomeByCounty

Peoria trails national income benchmarks

Peoria County's median household income of $64,938 falls $9,817 short of the national median of $74,755, a 13.1% disadvantage. The county lags the typical American household's earning power.

Below Illinois state average

At $64,938, Peoria County trails Illinois's state average of $68,580 by $3,642, or 5.3%. The county ranks in the lower-middle tier among Illinois counties.

Peoria ranks at the lower end

Peoria's $64,938 trails all peer counties except Montgomery ($61,863), making it among the cluster's lower earners. The county falls significantly behind Ogle ($79,244), Menard ($81,334), and substantially below Monroe ($101,635).

Housing costs burden Peoria households

Peoria's 17.5% rent-to-income ratio is the highest among all eight counties, signaling substantial housing cost burden. Median home values of $152,600 consume a significant portion of below-average incomes.

Peoria needs targeted financial support

With lower-than-average incomes and the highest housing cost burden, Peoria households must prioritize housing stability and emergency savings. Explore first-time homebuyer programs, credit counseling, and employer retirement benefits to begin building financial resilience.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Peoria County

via HealthByCounty

Peoria life expectancy below national average

Peoria County's life expectancy of 75.3 years falls 1.1 years below the U.S. average of 76.4 years. About 18.1% report poor or fair health, indicating moderate population health concerns.

Below state average but regional hub

Peoria's 75.3-year life expectancy trails Illinois' state average of 76.0 years by 0.7 years. Despite lower longevity, the county functions as a regional healthcare hub with exceptional provider density.

Lower longevity than neighboring counties

Peoria's 75.3-year life expectancy ranks near the bottom regionally, ahead only of Montgomery (74.1) and Moultrie (75.0). This gap persists despite the county's concentration of healthcare providers.

Healthcare hub with exceptional access

Peoria dominates provider availability with 134 primary care providers per 100,000—more than any other county in this set—and 309 mental health providers per 100,000. With a 5.8% uninsured rate near the state average, residents have both capacity and coverage to access care.

Use Peoria's world-class care access

Your county has more doctors than anywhere else in this comparison—make sure you're covered to see them. Visit healthcare.gov to confirm your insurance is active and connected to Peoria's exceptional provider network.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Peoria County

via RiskByCounty

Peoria County faces elevated national risk

Peoria County's composite risk score of 90.68 substantially exceeds the national average, earning a relatively moderate risk rating. This represents the highest hazard exposure among the surveyed counties and indicates substantial natural disaster threats.

Illinois's riskiest county by far

Peoria County's composite score of 90.68 far exceeds Illinois's 54.46 state average, ranking it as the state's most at-risk county. Illinois residents face no greater concentration of natural disaster hazards than in Peoria County.

Dramatically riskier than any nearby county

Peoria County (90.68) carries substantially higher risk than all neighboring counties, including Morgan County (71.12), Ogle County (71.09), and Moultrie County (45.04). No adjacent county approaches Peoria's hazard exposure.

Tornadoes dominate an already hazardous profile

Tornado risk (95.80) reaches exceptional levels in Peoria County, combined with elevated flood risk (88.74) and earthquake risk (79.93). Hurricane risk (30.70) and wildfire risk (9.80) add to the overall hazard burden.

Comprehensive insurance strategy is critical

Peoria County homeowners must secure flood insurance, earthquake insurance, and robust homeowners coverage protecting against tornadoes and wind damage. Regular policy reviews and maintaining adequate coverage limits are essential given the exceptional hazard exposure.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.