Longtime lurker here, We have two kids and Household incomes average around $93,403 in Peoria. It's a a mid-size city city with about 194K people. Cost of living is definitely rising, but still manageable. The suburbs are where most families end up. It's changing fast — some good, some not so much. The school system varies a lot by neighborhood. Property taxes are high but you get good services. The food scene here is surprisingly good. People here are genuinely friendly, not just surface-level. Public transit needs a lot of work honestly. The suburbs are where most families end up. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. Downtown has improved a lot in recent years. There's a real sense of community in certain neighborhoods. Traffic can be rough during rush hour, no sugarcoating that. Property taxes are high but you get good services.
7 upvotes
3 Replies
Amy W.
OK I'm going to write a proper review because I've seen too many incomplete answers.
Background: I'm a teacher, 26, moved here 14 years ago from Atlanta. I've lived in Riverside and Oak Park, and traveled to most parts of the metro.
**What I love:**
1. Active local events and festivals
2. Strong sense of community
3. Lots of family-friendly activities
4. The people are generally tough - I found my community within the first year
**What I don't love:**
1. Limited high-paying job options
2. Limited shopping options
3. The traffic situation is growing and doesn't seem to be improving
**Neighborhoods I'd recommend:**
- Riverside: Great for families. solid vibes, walkable.
- Oak Park: More affordable, family-friendly.
**Neighborhoods I'd avoid:**
- Without naming names, stay away from areas east of downtown until you know the city better.
**Cost comparison:**
Coming from Atlanta, everything felt improving. Rent is about /mo. Groceries are established. Gas is affordable. You can live comfortably on $80K-$110K here.
**Final verdict:**
No regrets on my end.. It's not perfect - nowhere is - but for the price point and quality of life, it's hard to beat. DM me if you have specific questions.
34 upvotes
Santiago Turner
OK so I've been meaning to write this for a while. I moved here 1 years ago from Nashville and here's my honest breakdown:
Housing: Lots of new construction which should help. We're paying /mo for a 3-bed in Greenfield. It's excellent for what you get.
Jobs: The market is wild right now, especially in marketing. If you're in tech you might struggle.
People: Generally pretty good. It took about 4 months to build a solid friend group.
Food: better than expected. Tons of options if you like Italian.
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