Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MO
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Columbia leads 14 of 23 categories
Columbia
Missouri
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,455
Violent Crime Index
91 ✓ Safer
Population
126,172 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5
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.
Columbia, MO
Pros
61% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (4.0%)
More college-educated — 55.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $101k less ($147,700 vs $248,600)
Rent averages $84/mo less ($913 vs $997)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
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
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 90.5 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Violent Crime
61% lower
347.5 vs 901.2 per 100k
Columbia
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
4.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
Columbia
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 85.5°F
Springfield
Median Income
$1,964
$62,419 vs $60,455/yr
Springfield
Median Home Value
$101k less
$147,700 vs $248,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, MO | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 90.5 |
| Median Home Value | $248,600 | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,455 | $62,419 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.5 min ✓ Shorter | 17.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | A- (111) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.3% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 92.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLUMBIA 93 | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.8" | 40.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.4" ✓ Less | 21.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,172 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | 21.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Columbia leads 14 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 14 and Springfield wins 9. 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 Columbia to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($248,600 vs $147,700 median home), income ($60,455 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MO and Springfield, IL are about 155 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.