Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Plano, TX
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Plano leads 14 of 23 categories
Plano
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,679 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
284,948 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419
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.
Plano, TX
Pros
Households earn $43,260 more per year on average
83% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (151.6 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $412,500
Higher rents — median is $1,699/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Springfield
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $265k less ($147,700 vs $412,500)
Rent averages $786/mo less ($913 vs $1,699)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Plano
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Plano by $43,260/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 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Plano
Median Income
$43,260
$105,679 vs $62,419/yr
Plano
Violent Crime
83% lower
151.6 vs 901.2 per 100k
Plano
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Plano
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 85.5°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$265k less
$147,700 vs $412,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Plano, TX | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $412,500⚠ High | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,699⚠ High | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $105,679 ✓ Higher | $62,419 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.8 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.3% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 52 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 40 ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (134) ✓ Better | A- (111) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 58.4% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 92.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PLANO ISD | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" | 40.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" ✓ Less | 21.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,948 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 38.9 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.7% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.7% ✓ More | 21.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.7% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Plano's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Plano leads 14 of 23 categories. Plano wins 14 and Springfield wins 9. 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 Plano to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($412,500 vs $147,700 median home), income ($105,679 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Plano, TX and Springfield, IL are about 610 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.