What are the schools like in Springfield, IL?

Springfield is served primarily by Springfield SD 186. The district operates 21 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 6 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.0:1.

What is the median household income in Springfield?

The median household income in Springfield, IL is $62,419 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.6%.

What is the weather like in Springfield, IL?

Springfield has an average high temperature of 35.8°F in January and 85.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 40.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 21.8 inches.

Springfield, IL Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Springfield, IL affordable or expensive?

Springfield's cost of living index is 90, where 100 represents the national average. This means Springfield is 10% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $147,700 and the median rent is $913 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Springfield, IL?

Springfield has a violent crime rate of 901.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 4911.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Springfield, IL a Good Place to Live?

Springfield is a mid-sized city of 114,214 in Illinois, with a median household income of $62,419 and a 6.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is 10% below the national average.

Strengths: Springfield stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Springfield is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Springfield city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 90.5

Springfield's overall cost of living index is 90.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Springfield costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.

Metric	Springfield, IL	National Avg
Median Home Value	$147,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$913	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	62.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$62,419	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Springfield's violent crime rate is 901.2 per 100,000 residents — 137% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

901.2 /100k

Property Crime

4911.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Springfield is served primarily by Springfield SD 186. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Springfield, IL	National Avg
School District	Springfield SD 186	—
Elementary Schools	21	—
Middle Schools	5	—
High Schools	6	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	34.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Springfield sees average highs of 35.8°F in January and 85.5°F in July, with 40.4 inches of annual precipitation and 21.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Springfield, IL
Average High — January	35.8°F
Average High — July	85.5°F
Annual Precipitation	40.4"
Annual Snowfall	21.8"

Demographics

Metric	Springfield, IL	National Avg
Population	114,214	—
Median Age	40.1	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.6 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	70.9%	59.3%
Black or African American	20.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.2%	18.9%
Asian	3.1%	6.3%
Under 18	21.6%	22.2%
65 and over	18.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Leland Grove, IL 2 mi Grandview, IL 2 mi Jerome, IL 2 mi Southern View, IL 3 mi Clear Lake, IL 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Springfield

Springfield, IL is covered by 8 ZIP codes:

62703 62702 62704 62711 62712 62707 62701 62706

Springfield vs Other Cities

Springfield, IL vs Leland Grove, IL Springfield, IL vs Grandview, IL Springfield, IL vs Jerome, IL Springfield, IL vs Southern View, IL Springfield, IL vs Clear Lake, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Springfield, IL affordable or expensive?

Springfield's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average. That makes Springfield roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $147,700 and median rent is $913/month.

What is the crime rate in Springfield, IL?

Springfield's violent crime rate is 901.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 4911.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Springfield?

Public schools in Springfield are operated by Springfield SD 186. The district has 21 elementary, 5 middle, and 6 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1. 34.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Springfield, IL a good place to live?

Springfield, IL has a population of 114,214, a median household income of $62,419, and an unemployment rate of 6.6%. It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Springfield?

Springfield averages 35.8°F in January and 85.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 40.4 inches with about 21.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Springfield?

Springfield, IL is covered by 8 ZIP codes: 62703, 62702, 62704, 62711, 62712, 62707, 62701, 62706.

What is the population of Springfield?

The population of Springfield, Illinois is 114,214 with a median age of 40.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Springfield?

Key numbers for living in Springfield: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $147,700, median household income $62,419, crime index 236 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Springfield side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.