Pekin 74 Excellent
Pekin Livability #226 ranked city in Illinois#4,313 ranked city in the USARanks better than 85% of areas
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Pros and Cons of Living in Pekin

PROS
  • Commute Commute

    An elevated score in the commute category points to excellent public transit accessibility and shorter-than-average work commute times in this area.

  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    Taking into account the cost of goods and services like housing, groceries, transportation and utilities, the overall cost of living in this area is well below average.

  • Housing Housing

    High scores in the housing category are a distinguishing feature of this area, possibly driven by a favorable home affordability ratio, higher home values and appreciation rates.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    Good air quality as well as nearby health facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, fire and police stations all contribute to a higher than average health and safety score.

CONS
  • Amenities Amenities

    The majority of amenities are not ideally located within walking distance. To access these amenities, residents may be required to rely on a vehicle or public transit.

  • Schools Schools

    The low schools score could result from issues like below-average graduation rates, inadequate reading and math scores, and the unavailability of local elementary and high schools.

What's it like Living in Pekin?

Pekin, Illinois is a mid-sized city with a population of 33,468 people. If we look at the most recent Census, Pekin is known to have a predominantly White population. The next two most common races are Black and Asian.

Without the right tools, moving to any new city can be very stressful and challenging. Living in Pekin, Illinois could be a good experience for anyone who puts in the time to do the research required. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is paramount, ensuring a secure environment for you and your family. Proximity to workplaces or schools reduces commuting time and enhances convenience. Access to amenities like parks, grocery stores and healthcare facilities contributes to a comfortable lifestyle. Reliable public transportation options promote easy mobility. A strong sense of community fosters social connections and a welcoming atmosphere. Finding the best places to live in Pekin and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes amenities, cost of living, health & safety, employment and other important metrics.

The livability score in Pekin is 75 out of 100 and the city is ranked in the 87th percentile of all cities across America. Compared to the national average, Pekin ranks among some of the best places to live in the country! There are nine total categories that create the livability score. Pekin ranks well for cost of living (A+) and housing (A+) Pekin does not score well for the following: amenities (F) and education (D-). It might be a smart idea to take a closer look at each category to find out why.

A healthy real estate market serves as a key economic indicator. It could signify overall local economic strength, stability and reflects consumer confidence in the area. Based on multiple factors including: median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability, Pekin has received high marks in the housing category. Based on these calculations, the apartment rental and real estate market appears to be very healthy.

Assuming that Pekin meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Pekin. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Pekin are simply unattainable. Median real estate prices in Pekin come in at $188,586, which is 38.9% lower than the Illinois average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Pekin, the home price to income ratio is 2.5, which is 28.6% lower than the Illinois average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Pekin

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How Do You Rate The Livability In Pekin?

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Compare Pekin, IL Livability

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      Pekin transportation information

      Statistic Pekin Illinois National
      Average one way commute22min29min26min
      Workers who drive to work84.8%73.4%76.4%
      Workers who carpool7.6%8.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit1.5%9.2%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.1%0.6%0.6%
      Workers who walk1.2%3.1%2.8%
      Working from home3.0%4.4%4.6%
      Source: The Pekin, IL data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.