Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Portsmouth, VA
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield leads 15 of 22 categories
Portsmouth
Virginia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
97,384
Springfield
Illinois
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419 ✓ Higher
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.
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
17% less violent crime than Springfield
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 36°F
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Springfield by $5,265/yr
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Springfield
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $66k less ($147,700 vs $213,300)
Rent averages $312/mo less ($913 vs $1,225)
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Households earn $5,265 more per year on average
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Portsmouth
Violent Crime
17% lower
752.4 vs 901.2 per 100k
Springfield
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Income
$5,265
$62,419 vs $57,154/yr
Springfield
Median Home Value
$66k less
$147,700 vs $213,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Portsmouth, VA | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $213,300 | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,225 | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,154 | $62,419 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.2 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 198⚠ High ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 184⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.7:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.2% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.5% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Portsmouth City Public Schools | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.8°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" | 40.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" ✓ Less | 21.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,384 | 114,214 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.6 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.1% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 21.6% |
| Over 65 | 15.1% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Portsmouth's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Springfield leads 15 of 22 categories. Portsmouth wins 7 and Springfield wins 15. 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 Portsmouth to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($213,300 vs $147,700 median home), income ($57,154 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Portsmouth, VA and Springfield, IL are about 747 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.