Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Arvada leads 14 of 23 categories
Arvada
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Illinois
9
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.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Households earn $43,595 more per year on average
68% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Springfield
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $405k less ($147,700 vs $553,000)
Rent averages $793/mo less ($913 vs $1,706)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Arvada
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $43,595/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 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$43,595
$106,014 vs $62,419/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
68% lower
285.6 vs 901.2 per 100k
Arvada
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
3.8% vs 6.6% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$405k less
$147,700 vs $553,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $62,419 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 92.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 40.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 21.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 40.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 62.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 21.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.5% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arvada leads 14 of 23 categories. Arvada wins 14 and Springfield wins 9. 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 Arvada to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $147,700 median home), income ($106,014 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Springfield, IL are about 822 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.