Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Lauderdale, FL
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,376 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Illinois
10
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.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 36°F
Households earn $12,957 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 40.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $417,600
Higher rents — median is $1,627/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Springfield
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $270k less ($147,700 vs $417,600)
Rent averages $714/mo less ($913 vs $1,627)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Lauderdale
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 91°F
Cons
Violent crime (901.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Fort Lauderdale by $12,957/yr
Property crime (4911.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Lauderdale
Median Income
$12,957
$75,376 vs $62,419/yr
Fort Lauderdale
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Fort Lauderdale
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 85.5°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$270k less
$147,700 vs $417,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $417,600⚠ High | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,627⚠ High | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $75,376 ✓ Higher | $62,419 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.3 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.3% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 63.0" | 40.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 21.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 182,673 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 43.2 ✓ Older | 40.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 21.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.3% ✓ More | 18.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Lauderdale's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Fort Lauderdale wins 10 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 Fort Lauderdale to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($417,600 vs $147,700 median home), income ($75,376 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Lauderdale, FL and Springfield, IL are about 1,090 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.