Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaverton, OR
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield leads 13 of 23 categories
Beaverton
Oregon
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,899 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
97,554
Springfield
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419
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.
Beaverton, OR
Pros
60% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $26,480 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (3.9%)
More college-educated — 48.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,700
Higher rents — median is $1,663/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Springfield
Property crime (2661.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $347k less ($147,700 vs $494,700)
Rent averages $750/mo less ($913 vs $1,663)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Beaverton
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Beaverton by $26,480/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 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Beaverton
Median Income
$26,480
$88,899 vs $62,419/yr
Beaverton
Violent Crime
60% lower
364.8 vs 901.2 per 100k
Beaverton
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.9% vs 6.6% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$347k less
$147,700 vs $494,700
Springfield
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 82.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaverton, OR | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,700⚠ High | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,663⚠ High | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,899 ✓ Higher | $62,419 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.3:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.3% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.5% ✓ Higher | 92.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Beaverton SD 48J | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.7°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 82.3°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.0" | 40.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" ✓ Less | 21.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,554 | 114,214 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.7 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.3% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 21.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaverton's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 13 of 23 categories. Beaverton wins 10 and Springfield wins 13. 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 Beaverton to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,700 vs $147,700 median home), income ($88,899 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaverton, OR and Springfield, IL are about 1,718 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.