Peoria is not all dominated by Caterpillar like some people will have you believe. Bradley University is also based here, and that university is home to about 5,000 students. Several financial companies are located downtown (but I don't know if they're actually hiring or not). Caterpillar has been known for laying off some of its employees. Parts of the city feel very run-down, and the south side of the city has a reputation for high crime and being home to many of the city's drug dealers. The area north of U.S. Route 150 is the best, with excellent public schools and low crime; schools in other parts of town are rather sketchy. Bottom line: Peoria is a nice place to live if you live in the right part of town.
Clint | Barry, IL | Report Abuse