Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Spring Hill, FL
🏆 Spring Hill leads 12 of 20 categories
Chicago
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,673 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Spring Hill
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,588
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
116,882
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $10,085 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 6.4%)
Longer commutes — 34.1 min average each way
Spring Hill, FL
Pros
Homes cost $83k less ($221,500 vs $304,500)
Milder winters — January highs near 72°F vs 32°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (6.4%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Rent averages $91/mo less ($1,223 vs $1,314)
Cons
Median income trails Chicago by $10,085/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Chicago
Median Income
$10,085
$71,673 vs $61,588/yr
Spring Hill
Median Home Value
$83k less
$221,500 vs $304,500
Spring Hill
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
6.4% vs 8.2% unemployment
Spring Hill
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Spring Hill, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 | $221,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 | $1,223 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 ✓ Higher | $61,588 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 6.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 29.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 10.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 19.2% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% | 89.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | HERNANDO |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 71.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" ✓ Drier | 56.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 116,882 |
| Median Age | 35.3 | 43.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 77.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% | 22.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Spring Hill's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Spring Hill leads 12 of 20 categories. Chicago wins 8 and Spring Hill wins 12. 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 Chicago to Spring Hill or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $221,500 median home), income ($71,673 vs $61,588), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Spring Hill, FL are about 967 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.