Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakeland, FL
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield leads 13 of 23 categories
Lakeland
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High
Median Household Income
$58,290
Violent Crime Index
15 ✓ Safer
Population
114,404 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Illinois
13
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.
Lakeland, FL
Pros
94% less violent crime than Springfield
Violent crime is well below the national average (56.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 36°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.4%)
Cons
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Springfield
Median income trails Springfield by $4,129/yr
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $60k less ($147,700 vs $207,800)
Rent averages $304/mo less ($913 vs $1,217)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakeland
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lakeland
Violent Crime
94% lower
56.0 vs 901.2 per 100k
Lakeland
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Lakeland
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 85.5°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 100.7 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Income
$4,129
$62,419 vs $58,290/yr
Springfield
Median Home Value
$60k less
$147,700 vs $207,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakeland, FL | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.7⚠ High | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $207,800 | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,217 | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,290 | $62,419 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.2 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 15 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 15 ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 17 ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (89) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.3:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.7% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.1% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | POLK | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 73.7°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.3" | 40.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 21.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,404 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 40.6 ✓ Older | 40.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.8% | 21.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.7% ✓ More | 18.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakeland's cost of living index is 100.7 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 13 of 23 categories. Lakeland 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 Lakeland to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($207,800 vs $147,700 median home), income ($58,290 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakeland, FL and Springfield, IL are about 922 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.