Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield leads 13 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419 ✓ Higher
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.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
6% less violent crime than Springfield
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (845.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Springfield by $13,228/yr
Property crime (3829.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Springfield
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $44k less ($147,700 vs $192,000)
Households earn $13,228 more per year on average
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Cincinnati
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
Cincinnati
Violent Crime
6% lower
845.6 vs 901.2 per 100k
Springfield
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 94.1 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Income
$13,228
$62,419 vs $49,191/yr
Springfield
Median Home Value
$44k less
$147,700 vs $192,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $913 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $62,419 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" | 40.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" ✓ Less | 21.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 21.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 13 of 23 categories. Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $147,700 median home), income ($49,191 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Springfield, IL are about 278 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.