Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Chicago, IL
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Chicago leads 13 of 23 categories
Chicago
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,673 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Chicago, IL
Pros
Households earn $23,996 more per year on average
39% less violent crime than Springfield
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (8.2%)
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
Longer commutes — 34.1 min average each way
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Springfield
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $106k less ($198,500 vs $304,500)
Rent averages $267/mo less ($1,047 vs $1,314)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Chicago
Cons
Median income trails Chicago by $23,996/yr
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Chicago
Median Income
$23,996
$71,673 vs $47,677/yr
Chicago
Violent Crime
39% lower
539.8 vs 891.4 per 100k
Chicago
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
8.2% vs 8.7% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$106k less
$198,500 vs $304,500
Springfield
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 84.9°F vs 81.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Chicago, IL | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,500 | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,314 | $1,047 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,673 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 34.1 min⚠ High | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.6% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 142⚠ High ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 165⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 86.6% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 31.9°F | 34.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.0°F | 84.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 34.4" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 38.8" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger | 155,305 |
| Median Age | 35.3 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 47.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.3% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Chicago leads 13 of 23 categories. Chicago wins 13 and Springfield wins 10. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,500 vs $198,500 median home), income ($71,673 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Chicago, IL and Springfield, MA are about 777 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.