Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Evansville, IN
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Evansville leads 15 of 23 categories
Evansville
Indiana
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
317⚠ High
Population
116,906
Springfield
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
155,305 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Evansville, IN
Pros
Homes cost $77k less ($121,100 vs $198,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (5.7%)
Rent averages $130/mo less ($917 vs $1,047)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Springfield
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.8)
Milder winters — January highs near 42°F vs 35°F
Cons
Violent crime (1206.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3678.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Springfield, MA
Pros
26% less violent crime than Evansville
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
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 5.7%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Evansville
Key Differences at a Glance
Evansville
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Evansville
Median Income
$2,176
$49,853 vs $47,677/yr
Evansville
Median Home Value
$77k less
$121,100 vs $198,500
Evansville
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
5.7% vs 8.7% unemployment
Evansville
Summer Heat
4.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.0°F vs 84.9°F
Springfield
Violent Crime
26% lower
891.4 vs 1206.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Evansville, IN | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $121,100 ✓ Lower | $198,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 ✓ Lower | $1,047 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,853 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 21.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.2% | 7.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 317⚠ High | 235⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 175⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.2% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Evansville Vanderburgh School Corp | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.0°F ✓ Warmer | 84.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.8" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 10.8" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,906 | 155,305 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Evansville's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Evansville is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Evansville leads 15 of 23 categories. Evansville wins 15 and Springfield wins 8. 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 Evansville to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($121,100 vs $198,500 median home), income ($49,853 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Evansville, IN and Springfield, MA are about 841 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.