Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albany, NY
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield leads 17 of 23 categories
Albany
New York
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6
Median Household Income
$54,736
Violent Crime Index
215⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,692
Springfield
Illinois
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High
Population
114,214 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albany, NY
Pros
9% less violent crime than Springfield
More college-educated — 43.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (816.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Springfield by $7,683/yr
Property crime (2848.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.0% vs 6.6%)
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $66k less ($147,700 vs $213,400)
Rent averages $217/mo less ($913 vs $1,130)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (6.6%)
Households earn $7,683 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Albany
Cons
Violent crime (901.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4911.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Albany
Violent Crime
9% lower
816.9 vs 901.2 per 100k
Springfield
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 97.6 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Income
$7,683
$62,419 vs $54,736/yr
Springfield
Median Home Value
$66k less
$147,700 vs $213,400
Springfield
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albany, NY | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,400 | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,130 | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,736 | $62,419 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.0%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 215⚠ High ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 43.0% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBANY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 32.8°F | 35.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.9°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.1" | 40.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 56.2" | 21.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,692 | 114,214 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.0 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.7% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.1% | 21.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albany's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 17 of 23 categories. Albany wins 6 and Springfield wins 17. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albany to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,400 vs $147,700 median home), income ($54,736 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albany, NY and Springfield, IL are about 846 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.