Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Des Moines, IA
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield leads 14 of 22 categories
Des Moines
Iowa
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7
Median Household Income
$62,378
Violent Crime Index
185⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
213,164 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Illinois
14
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.
Des Moines, IA
Pros
22% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.9%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
Cons
Violent crime (703.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3126.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Springfield
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $23k less ($147,700 vs $170,700)
Rent averages $82/mo less ($913 vs $995)
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Des Moines
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
Des Moines
Violent Crime
22% lower
703.0 vs 901.2 per 100k
Des Moines
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.6% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 92.7 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$23k less
$147,700 vs $170,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Des Moines, IA | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $170,700 | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,378 | $62,419 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.5 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 171⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 185⚠ High ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.7% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Des Moines Independent Comm School District | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.9°F | 35.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.6°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.5" ✓ Drier | 40.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5" | 21.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 213,164 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 34.4 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.2% ✓ More | 21.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Des Moines's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Springfield leads 14 of 22 categories. Des Moines wins 8 and Springfield wins 14. 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 Des Moines to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($170,700 vs $147,700 median home), income ($62,378 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Des Moines, IA and Springfield, IL are about 241 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.