Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Germantown, MD
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield leads 12 of 20 categories
Germantown
Maryland
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Springfield
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419
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.
Germantown, MD
Pros
Households earn $46,849 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $393,700
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Springfield
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $246k less ($147,700 vs $393,700)
Rent averages $995/mo less ($913 vs $1,908)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Germantown
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Cons
Median income trails Germantown by $46,849/yr
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
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Germantown
Median Income
$46,849
$109,268 vs $62,419/yr
Germantown
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.6% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$246k less
$147,700 vs $393,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Germantown, MD | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $393,700⚠ High | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,908⚠ High | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $109,268 ✓ Higher | $62,419 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.6 min⚠ High | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ 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 | A- (116) ✓ Better | A- (111) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.9% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Montgomery County Public Schools | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.1°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.3°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.7" | 40.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 32.6" | 21.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 90,210 | 114,214 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.9% ✓ Higher | 62.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.3% ✓ More | 21.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.7% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Germantown's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Springfield leads 12 of 20 categories. Germantown wins 8 and Springfield wins 12. 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 Germantown to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($393,700 vs $147,700 median home), income ($109,268 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Germantown, MD and Springfield, IL are about 661 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.