Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbus, OH
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield leads 13 of 23 categories
Columbus
Ohio
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.5
Median Household Income
$62,994 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
114⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
902,449 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419
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.
Columbus, OH
Pros
52% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.2%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.5)
More college-educated — 38.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Property crime (2653.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Springfield
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $65k less ($147,700 vs $212,500)
Rent averages $248/mo less ($913 vs $1,161)
Commutes run 4 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 Columbus
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 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbus
Median Income
$575
$62,994 vs $62,419/yr
Columbus
Violent Crime
52% lower
434.9 vs 901.2 per 100k
Columbus
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.6% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 94.5 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$65k less
$147,700 vs $212,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbus, OH | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.5 | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $212,500 | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,161 | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,994 ✓ Higher | $62,419 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 114⚠ High ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (97) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 38.3% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.3% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Columbus City Schools District | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.5°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.0°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.2" | 40.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 21.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 902,449 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 32.7 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.7% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.9% ✓ More | 21.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbus's cost of living index is 94.5 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. Columbus 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 Columbus to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($212,500 vs $147,700 median home), income ($62,994 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbus, OH and Springfield, IL are about 353 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.