Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Livonia, MI
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Livonia leads 12 of 23 categories
Livonia
Michigan
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0
Median Household Income
$92,458 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
60 ✓ Safer
Population
94,928
Springfield
Illinois
11
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.
Livonia, MI
Pros
75% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $30,039 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (228.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 39.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Springfield
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $101k less ($147,700 vs $249,000)
Rent averages $322/mo less ($913 vs $1,235)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Livonia
Milder winters — January highs near 36°F vs 30°F
Cons
Median income trails Livonia by $30,039/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 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Livonia
Median Income
$30,039
$92,458 vs $62,419/yr
Livonia
Violent Crime
75% lower
228.1 vs 901.2 per 100k
Livonia
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.6% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 98.0 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$101k less
$147,700 vs $249,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Livonia, MI | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $249,000 | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,458 ✓ Higher | $62,419 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.3% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 60 ✓ 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 | B+ (108) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.1% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 94.7% ✓ Higher | 92.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Livonia Public Schools School District | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 30.4°F | 35.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.9°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.0" ✓ Drier | 40.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.0" | 21.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,928 | 114,214 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 45.2 ✓ Older | 40.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 62.4% |
| Under 18 | 18.2% | 21.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 21.7% ✓ More | 18.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Livonia's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Livonia leads 12 of 23 categories. Livonia 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 Livonia to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($249,000 vs $147,700 median home), income ($92,458 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Livonia, MI and Springfield, IL are about 373 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.