Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Milwaukee, WI
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield leads 18 of 23 categories
Milwaukee
Wisconsin
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.5
Median Household Income
$49,733
Violent Crime Index
377⚠ High
Population
573,299 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Illinois
18
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.
Milwaukee, WI
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.9%)
Cons
Violent crime (1430.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Springfield by $12,686/yr
Property crime (2700.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Springfield
Springfield, IL
Pros
37% less violent crime than Milwaukee
Households earn $12,686 more per year on average
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Milder winters — January highs near 36°F vs 30°F
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
Milwaukee
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.9% vs 6.6% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 95.5 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Income
$12,686
$62,419 vs $49,733/yr
Springfield
Violent Crime
37% lower
901.2 vs 1430.9 per 100k
Springfield
Median Home Value
$10k less
$147,700 vs $157,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Milwaukee, WI | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 95.5 | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $157,800 | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $982 | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,733 | $62,419 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.2 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.4% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 277⚠ High | 236⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 377⚠ High | 237⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.5:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.1% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 85.4% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Milwaukee School District | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 29.7°F | 35.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 33.8" ✓ Drier | 40.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 39.5" | 21.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 573,299 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 31.8 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.2% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.7% ✓ More | 21.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Milwaukee's cost of living index is 95.5 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 18 of 23 categories. Milwaukee wins 5 and Springfield wins 18. 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 Milwaukee to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($157,800 vs $147,700 median home), income ($49,733 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Milwaukee, WI and Springfield, IL are about 242 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.