Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jersey City, NJ
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Jersey City leads 12 of 23 categories
Jersey City
New Jersey
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
287,899 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Illinois
11
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.
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
Households earn $28,732 more per year on average
38% less violent crime than Springfield
More college-educated — 51.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.8%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $500,100
Higher rents — median is $1,799/mo
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Springfield
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $352k less ($147,700 vs $500,100)
Rent averages $886/mo less ($913 vs $1,799)
Commutes run 19 min shorter each way
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Jersey City
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Cons
Median income trails Jersey City by $28,732/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 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Jersey City
Median Income
$28,732
$91,151 vs $62,419/yr
Jersey City
Violent Crime
38% lower
561.6 vs 901.2 per 100k
Jersey City
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.6% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$352k less
$147,700 vs $500,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jersey City, NJ | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $500,100⚠ High | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,799⚠ High | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $91,151 ✓ Higher | $62,419 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 37.0 min⚠ High | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 97 ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | A- (111) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 51.9% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jersey City Public Schools | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.4°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.4" | 40.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.2" | 21.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 287,899 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 29.2% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 21.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jersey City's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Jersey City leads 12 of 23 categories. Jersey City wins 12 and Springfield wins 11. 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 Jersey City to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($500,100 vs $147,700 median home), income ($91,151 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jersey City, NJ and Springfield, IL are about 823 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.