Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Quincy, MA
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield leads 15 of 23 categories
Quincy
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,668 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
100,981
Springfield
Illinois
15
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.
Quincy, MA
Pros
63% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $28,249 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $563,200
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Springfield
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $416k less ($147,700 vs $563,200)
Rent averages $988/mo less ($913 vs $1,901)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Quincy
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Cons
Median income trails Quincy by $28,249/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
Key Differences at a Glance
Quincy
Median Income
$28,249
$90,668 vs $62,419/yr
Quincy
Violent Crime
63% lower
335.1 vs 901.2 per 100k
Springfield
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$416k less
$147,700 vs $563,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Quincy, MA | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $563,200⚠ High | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,901⚠ High | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,668 ✓ Higher | $62,419 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 33.9 min⚠ High | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 78 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | A- (111) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.1:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.9% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Quincy | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.9°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 83.0°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.3" | 40.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 50.9" | 21.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 100,981 | 114,214 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.3 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.9% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 15.0% | 21.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Quincy's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 15 of 23 categories. Quincy wins 8 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 Quincy to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($563,200 vs $147,700 median home), income ($90,668 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Quincy, MA and Springfield, IL are about 984 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.