Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orem, UT
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Orem leads 12 of 23 categories
Orem
Utah
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$77,568 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
46 ✓ Safer
Population
97,100
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.
Orem, UT
Pros
81% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (3.4%)
Households earn $15,149 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (174.5 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 42.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $392,900
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Springfield
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $245k less ($147,700 vs $392,900)
Rent averages $377/mo less ($913 vs $1,290)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Orem
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (901.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Orem by $15,149/yr
Property crime (4911.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Orem
Median Income
$15,149
$77,568 vs $62,419/yr
Orem
Violent Crime
81% lower
174.5 vs 901.2 per 100k
Orem
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
3.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Orem
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.5°F vs 85.5°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$245k less
$147,700 vs $392,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orem, UT | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.1 | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $392,900⚠ High | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,290 | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,568 ✓ Higher | $62,419 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.5% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 53 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.2% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.9% ✓ Higher | 92.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alpine District | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.5°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.5°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.2" ✓ Drier | 40.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 44.9" | 21.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,100 | 114,214 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 26.8 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.9% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 27.2% ✓ More | 21.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orem's cost of living index is 97.1 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Orem leads 12 of 23 categories. Orem 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 Orem to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($392,900 vs $147,700 median home), income ($77,568 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orem, UT and Springfield, IL are about 1,164 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.