Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indianapolis, IN
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield leads 15 of 23 categories
Indianapolis
Indiana
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.6
Median Household Income
$59,110
Violent Crime Index
231⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
882,006 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Illinois
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419 ✓ Higher
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.
Indianapolis, IN
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.6%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.6)
Cons
Violent crime (877.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3336.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Springfield by $3,309/yr
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Springfield
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $37k less ($147,700 vs $184,600)
Rent averages $133/mo less ($913 vs $1,046)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Households earn $3,309 more per year on average
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Indianapolis
Cons
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 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Indianapolis
Violent Crime
3% lower
877.9 vs 901.2 per 100k
Indianapolis
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 94.6 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Income
$3,309
$62,419 vs $59,110/yr
Springfield
Median Home Value
$37k less
$147,700 vs $184,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indianapolis, IN | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.6 | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $184,600 | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,046 | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,110 | $62,419 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.0 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.3% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 202⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 231⚠ High ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 159⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.4% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Indianapolis Public Schools | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.2°F | 35.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.7°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.2" | 40.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 25.5" | 21.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 882,006 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 34.3 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.5% ✓ More | 21.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.8% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indianapolis's cost of living index is 94.6 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 15 of 23 categories. Indianapolis wins 8 and Springfield wins 15. 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 Indianapolis to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($184,600 vs $147,700 median home), income ($59,110 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indianapolis, IN and Springfield, IL are about 186 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.