Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kansas City, KS
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield leads 13 of 23 categories
Kansas City
Kansas
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$56,120
Violent Crime Index
276⚠ High
Population
155,438 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,214
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Kansas City, KS
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (6.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Cons
Violent crime (1047.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3606.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Springfield by $6,299/yr
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Springfield
Springfield, IL
Pros
14% less violent crime than Kansas City
Rent averages $131/mo less ($913 vs $1,044)
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Households earn $6,299 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Kansas City
Median Home Value
$14k less
$133,800 vs $147,700
Kansas City
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
6.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
Kansas City
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.2°F vs 85.5°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Income
$6,299
$62,419 vs $56,120/yr
Springfield
Violent Crime
14% lower
901.2 vs 1047.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kansas City, KS | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $133,800 ✓ Lower | $147,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,044 | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,120 | $62,419 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 234⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 276⚠ High | 237⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 172⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.4:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.7% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 80.7% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kansas City | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.9°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.1" ✓ Drier | 40.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 11.0" ✓ Less | 21.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,438 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 34.1 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 21.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kansas City's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 13 of 23 categories. Kansas City wins 10 and Springfield wins 13. 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 Kansas City to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($133,800 vs $147,700 median home), income ($56,120 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kansas City, KS and Springfield, IL are about 276 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.