Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Durham leads 12 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6
Median Household Income
$74,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Illinois
11
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.
Durham, NC
Pros
31% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.3%)
Households earn $12,291 more per year on average
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $316,600
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Springfield
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $169k less ($147,700 vs $316,600)
Rent averages $383/mo less ($913 vs $1,296)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Durham
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (901.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Durham by $12,291/yr
Property crime (4911.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Median Income
$12,291
$74,710 vs $62,419/yr
Durham
Violent Crime
31% lower
619.2 vs 901.2 per 100k
Durham
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.6% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 96.6 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$169k less
$147,700 vs $316,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 ✓ Higher | $62,419 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ 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 | 15.0:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 40.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" ✓ Less | 21.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 21.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Durham leads 12 of 23 categories. Durham wins 12 and Springfield wins 11. 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 Durham to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $147,700 median home), income ($74,710 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Springfield, IL are about 642 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.