Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dayton, OH
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield leads 16 of 23 categories
Dayton
Ohio
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.3
Median Household Income
$41,443
Violent Crime Index
352⚠ High
Population
137,305 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Illinois
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,214
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dayton, OH
Pros
Homes cost $62k less ($86,200 vs $147,700)
Rent averages $83/mo less ($830 vs $913)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.3)
Cons
Median income trails Springfield by $20,976/yr
Violent crime (1339.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4334.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.0% vs 6.6%)
Springfield, IL
Pros
Households earn $20,976 more per year on average
33% less violent crime than Dayton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (6.6%)
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Dayton
Median Home Value
$62k less
$86,200 vs $147,700
Springfield
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 92.3 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Income
$20,976
$62,419 vs $41,443/yr
Springfield
Violent Crime
33% lower
901.2 vs 1339.2 per 100k
Springfield
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
6.6% vs 10.0% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dayton, OH | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.3 | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $86,200 ✓ Lower | $147,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $830 ✓ Lower | $913 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,443 | $62,419 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.0%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.1 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.7% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 294⚠ High | 236⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 352⚠ High | 237⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 206⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.6% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Dayton City | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.3°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.7°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.6" | 40.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 12.3" ✓ Less | 21.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,305 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 34.0 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.4% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | 21.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dayton's cost of living index is 92.3 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 16 of 23 categories. Dayton wins 7 and Springfield wins 16. 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 Dayton to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($86,200 vs $147,700 median home), income ($41,443 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dayton, OH and Springfield, IL are about 289 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.