Normal vs Pekin
Normal, Illinois versus Pekin, Illinois: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Pekin edges out Normal on overall objective livability (46 vs 42 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Normal | Pekin |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $64k | $53k |
| Cost of Living | $49k | $46k |
| Home Value | $194k | $115k |
| Monthly Rent | $924 | $736 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 2.41% | 2.07% |
| Income Tax | 5.00% | 5.00% |
| Sales Tax | 8.86% | 8.86% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 15.24% | 12.45% |
| Unemployment | 3.9% | 6.6% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 25°F | 26°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 75°F | 76°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.5 in | 39.5 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.5 in | 26.2 in |
| Sunny Days | 236 days | 236 days |
| Summer Humidity | 66°F | 66°F |
| Comfortable Days | 81 days | 81 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 62.2 | 62.5 |
| Air Quality | 53 AQI | 20 AQI |
| School Quality | 52.8 | 72.1 |
| Violent Crime | 1716/100k | 2240/100k |
| Property Crime | 1362/100k | 2307/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 52,920 | 32,075 |
| Median Age | 25.2 | 41.2 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.36 | 0.14 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.90 | 0.98 |
| Political Leaning | Even | R+26 |
| White (%) | 75.3% | 90.5% |
| Black (%) | 12.6% | 2.8% |
| Hispanic (%) | 6.0% | 2.6% |
| Asian (%) | 3.9% | 0.5% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 2.2% | 3.5% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 17 min | 22 min |
| Walkability | 11.4/20 | 13.2/20 |
| Airport Distance | 108 mi | 129 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 82.6% | 82.9% |
| Amenities Nearby | 51.97 | 25.88 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | Good |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Normal or Pekin more affordable?
- Pekin has the lower cost of living: its index is $46k, compared with Normal's $49k and Pekin's $46k. Median rent is $924 in Normal versus $736 in Pekin.
- Is Normal or Pekin safer?
- Normal has the lower violent crime rate. Normal reports 1716/100k and Pekin reports 2240/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Normal or Pekin?
- The median home value is $194k in Normal and $115k in Pekin, so homes are more affordable in Pekin.