Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elgin, IL
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Elgin leads 13 of 23 categories
Elgin
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,998 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
70 ✓ Safer
Population
114,190
Springfield
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Elgin, IL
Pros
Households earn $38,321 more per year on average
70% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (6.0%)
More college-educated — 26.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Longer commutes — 28.3 min average each way
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Springfield
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $44k less ($198,500 vs $242,500)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Rent averages $143/mo less ($1,047 vs $1,190)
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Elgin
Cons
Median income trails Elgin by $38,321/yr
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 6.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Elgin
Median Income
$38,321
$85,998 vs $47,677/yr
Elgin
Violent Crime
70% lower
266.7 vs 891.4 per 100k
Elgin
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
6.0% vs 8.7% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 102.6 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$44k less
$198,500 vs $242,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elgin, IL | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.6⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,500 | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,190 | $1,047 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,998 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.3 min⚠ High | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 63 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 81.1% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SD U-46 | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.1°F | 34.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.1°F | 84.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.9" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.1" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,190 | 155,305 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.5 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.2% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 26.2% ✓ More | 24.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elgin's cost of living index is 102.6 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Elgin leads 13 of 23 categories. Elgin wins 13 and Springfield wins 10. 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 Elgin to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,500 vs $198,500 median home), income ($85,998 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elgin, IL and Springfield, MA are about 808 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.