Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Riverside, CA
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories
Riverside
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Illinois
12
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.
Riverside, CA
Pros
35% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $21,029 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 36°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.1%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Springfield
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $338k less ($147,700 vs $485,500)
Rent averages $798/mo less ($913 vs $1,711)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverside
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Cons
Median income trails Riverside by $21,029/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
Riverside
Median Income
$21,029
$83,448 vs $62,419/yr
Riverside
Violent Crime
35% lower
589.7 vs 901.2 per 100k
Riverside
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.1% vs 6.6% unemployment
Riverside
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 85.5°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$338k less
$147,700 vs $485,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Riverside, CA | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $485,500⚠ High | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,448 ✓ Higher | $62,419 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.3:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Riverside Unified | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" ✓ Drier | 40.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 21.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 316,076 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 21.6% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Riverside's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories. Riverside wins 11 and Springfield wins 12. 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 Riverside to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($485,500 vs $147,700 median home), income ($83,448 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Riverside, CA and Springfield, IL are about 1,579 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.