Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Renton, WA
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield leads 14 of 23 categories
Renton
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$92,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
89 ✓ Safer
Population
105,355
Springfield
Illinois
14
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.
Renton, WA
Pros
62% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $29,873 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (4.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 36°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 86°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $576,800
Higher rents — median is $1,864/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Springfield
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $429k less ($147,700 vs $576,800)
Rent averages $951/mo less ($913 vs $1,864)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Renton
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Renton by $29,873/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 4.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Renton
Median Income
$29,873
$92,292 vs $62,419/yr
Renton
Violent Crime
62% lower
339.2 vs 901.2 per 100k
Renton
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
4.2% vs 6.6% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$429k less
$147,700 vs $576,800
Springfield
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Renton, WA | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $576,800⚠ High | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,864⚠ High | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $92,292 ✓ Higher | $62,419 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.7% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 117⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.5:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.9% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 89.9% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Renton School District | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.0°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.0" | 40.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 21.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,355 | 114,214 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.6% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 21.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.4% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Renton's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 14 of 23 categories. Renton wins 9 and Springfield wins 14. 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 Renton to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($576,800 vs $147,700 median home), income ($92,292 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Renton, WA and Springfield, IL are about 1,698 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.