Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Alexandria leads 12 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Illinois
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High
Population
114,214
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $50,760 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (3.2%)
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 45°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Springfield
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $508k less ($147,700 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $1070/mo less ($913 vs $1,983)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $50,760/yr
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
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$50,760
$113,179 vs $62,419/yr
Alexandria
Violent Crime
76% lower
219.1 vs 901.2 per 100k
Alexandria
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.6% unemployment
Alexandria
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 85.5°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$508k less
$147,700 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $62,419 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 92.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" | 40.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 21.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 21.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 12 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 12 and Springfield wins 11. 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 Alexandria to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $147,700 median home), income ($113,179 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Springfield, IL are about 674 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.