Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Baton Rouge, LA
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield leads 18 of 23 categories
Baton Rouge
Louisiana
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8
Median Household Income
$50,155
Violent Crime Index
270⚠ High
Population
225,500 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Illinois
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,214
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Baton Rouge, LA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 61°F vs 36°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Cons
Violent crime (1027.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Springfield by $12,264/yr
Property crime (5852.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.6% vs 6.6%)
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $70k less ($147,700 vs $217,700)
12% less violent crime than Baton Rouge
Households earn $12,264 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (6.6%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Rent averages $97/mo less ($913 vs $1,010)
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
Baton Rouge
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 85.5°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 90.8 on the COL index
Springfield
Median Income
$12,264
$62,419 vs $50,155/yr
Springfield
Violent Crime
12% lower
901.2 vs 1027.7 per 100k
Springfield
Median Home Value
$70k less
$147,700 vs $217,700
Springfield
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
6.6% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Baton Rouge, LA | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.8 | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $217,700 | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,010 | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,155 | $62,419 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.5 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.2% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 274⚠ High | 236⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 270⚠ High | 237⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 279⚠ High | 234⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.4:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.4% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Baton Rouge Parish | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.7°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.5" | 40.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 21.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 225,500 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 31.9 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.9% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.4% | 21.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.3% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Baton Rouge's cost of living index is 90.8 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 18 of 23 categories. Baton Rouge wins 5 and Springfield wins 18. 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 Baton Rouge to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($217,700 vs $147,700 median home), income ($50,155 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Baton Rouge, LA and Springfield, IL are about 651 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.