Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roanoke, VA
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield leads 14 of 22 categories
Roanoke
Virginia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
99,213
Springfield
Illinois
14
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.
Roanoke, VA
Pros
31% less violent crime than Springfield
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Milder winters — January highs near 47°F vs 36°F
Cons
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Springfield by $10,896/yr
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Springfield, IL
Pros
Households earn $10,896 more per year on average
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
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
Roanoke
Violent Crime
31% lower
620.4 vs 901.2 per 100k
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 90.9 on the COL index
Springfield
Median Income
$10,896
$62,419 vs $51,523/yr
Springfield
Median Home Value
$14k less
$147,700 vs $162,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roanoke, VA | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $162,000 | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $917 | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $51,523 | $62,419 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.9 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 175⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 193⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.4% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Roanoke City Public Schools | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.1°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.1°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" | 40.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.8" ✓ Less | 21.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 99,213 | 114,214 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.1% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.2% ✓ More | 21.6% |
| Over 65 | 17.6% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roanoke's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Springfield leads 14 of 22 categories. Roanoke wins 8 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 Roanoke to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($162,000 vs $147,700 median home), income ($51,523 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roanoke, VA and Springfield, IL are about 551 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.