Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, SC
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories
Columbia
South Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.9
Median Household Income
$54,095
Violent Crime Index
203⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
136,754 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Illinois
12
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.
Columbia, SC
Pros
15% less violent crime than Springfield
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 36°F
More college-educated — 44.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.9)
Cons
Violent crime (769.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Springfield by $8,324/yr
Property crime (3232.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 6.6%)
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $79k less ($147,700 vs $226,200)
Rent averages $192/mo less ($913 vs $1,105)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (6.6%)
Households earn $8,324 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 93°F
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
Columbia
Violent Crime
15% lower
769.9 vs 901.2 per 100k
Columbia
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 85.5°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 92.9 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Income
$8,324
$62,419 vs $54,095/yr
Springfield
Median Home Value
$79k less
$147,700 vs $226,200
Springfield
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, SC | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.9 | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $226,200 | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,105 | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,095 | $62,419 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.4 min ✓ Shorter | 17.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 8.3% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 183⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 203⚠ High ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | A- (111) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.8% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richland 01 | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.3°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 48.7" | 40.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.4" ✓ Less | 21.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,754 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 28.3 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 21.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 92.9 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories. Columbia wins 11 and Springfield 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 Columbia to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $147,700 median home), income ($54,095 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, SC and Springfield, IL are about 625 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.