Peoria IL weather/general living questions (Chicago, Champaign: section 8, crimes, houses)

[CYK]

Hello city-data forum members,

I am debating moving to Peoria taking a job at a law firm potentially. I was wondering if a few folks could give me an overview of the city. I've done some research but am hoping for some first hand experience.


If anyone could touch on the weather-seasons, amount of snow fall, as well as condition of the roads that would be great. I have a smaller two wheel drive car- and am debating whether I need something else.


Thanks in advance.




CYK.

[Caglee]

You should have no problem getting around inside the city during inclement weather. If you choose to reside outside the city in places such as Metamora, Washington, Dunlap, you might struggle on the county roads. The weather is typical midwestern weather, though having lived there for many years, snowfall is typically less than farther north in the Chicago area. Summers are hot and humid.

Peoria's generally been on a downward trend in terms of desirability, in my opinion, but it is still a large city that has pretty much everything you'd want. Also not too far to get to Bloomington/Normal and even Champaign/Urbana which are both great places to visit as well. Public schools are terrible, but there are a lot of private school options. Generally, the farther north/northwest you go in the city the more desirable and safer it will be. Downtown area and Main St is okay, but stray a few blocks in either direction and the neighborhoods get sketchy fast. Good hospitals, Bradley University, malls, good restaurants (Avanti's was always a favorite). Police department is proactive and the county is pretty good on prosecuting crimes - it's no Cook County for sure.

Very diverse city, in terms of racial and economic factors, everything from mansions on the north side to sprawling section 8 and low-income projects in the east and south sides of the city. A "working class" feel throughout much of the neighborhoods in the central part of the city. Historic residential districts around Bradley University with some really nice victorian style houses, but that part of the city is kind of an island surrounded by failing neighborhoods and gang crime.