Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Monte, CA
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield leads 15 of 22 categories
El Monte
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,929
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,682
Springfield
Illinois
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High
Population
114,214 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
El Monte, CA
Pros
53% less violent crime than Springfield
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,200
Higher rents — median is $1,605/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Springfield
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $450k less ($147,700 vs $597,200)
Rent averages $692/mo less ($913 vs $1,605)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than El Monte
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
El Monte
Violent Crime
53% lower
423.2 vs 901.2 per 100k
Springfield
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Income
$2,490
$62,419 vs $59,929/yr
Springfield
Median Home Value
$450k less
$147,700 vs $597,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Monte, CA | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,200⚠ High | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,605⚠ High | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,929 | $62,419 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.0%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.9% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 106⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 98 ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (66) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.7% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.9% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mountain View Elementary | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.6°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.7" ✓ Drier | 40.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 21.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 108,682 | 114,214 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.6% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 21.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.6% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Monte's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Springfield leads 15 of 22 categories. El Monte wins 7 and Springfield wins 15. 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 El Monte to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,200 vs $147,700 median home), income ($59,929 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Monte, CA and Springfield, IL are about 1,609 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.