Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hoover, AL
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Hoover leads 14 of 23 categories
Hoover
Alabama
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.6
Median Household Income
$101,765 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
21 ✓ Safer
Population
91,995
Springfield
Illinois
9
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.
Hoover, AL
Pros
91% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $39,346 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (3.9%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (78.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 60.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $366,200
Higher rents — median is $1,352/mo
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Springfield
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $219k less ($147,700 vs $366,200)
Rent averages $439/mo less ($913 vs $1,352)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hoover by $39,346/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 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hoover
Median Income
$39,346
$101,765 vs $62,419/yr
Hoover
Violent Crime
91% lower
78.0 vs 901.2 per 100k
Hoover
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
3.9% vs 6.6% unemployment
Hoover
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.2°F vs 85.5°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 92.6 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$219k less
$147,700 vs $366,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hoover, AL | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.6 | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $366,200⚠ High | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $101,765 ✓ Higher | $62,419 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.0 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.8% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 36 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (122) ✓ Better | A- (111) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 60.2% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.7% ✓ Higher | 92.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hoover City | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.8°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 59.0" | 40.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.2" ✓ Less | 21.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,995 | 114,214 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.3 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.5% ✓ Higher | 62.4% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 21.6% |
| Over 65 | 16.1% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hoover's cost of living index is 92.6 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hoover leads 14 of 23 categories. Hoover wins 14 and Springfield wins 9. 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 Hoover to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($366,200 vs $147,700 median home), income ($101,765 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hoover, AL and Springfield, IL are about 470 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.