Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sacramento, CA
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Sacramento leads 13 of 23 categories
Sacramento
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,954 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
199⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
523,600 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Illinois
10
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.
Sacramento, CA
Pros
16% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $16,535 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $450,500
Higher rents — median is $1,592/mo
Violent crime (754.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Springfield
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $303k less ($147,700 vs $450,500)
Rent averages $679/mo less ($913 vs $1,592)
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Sacramento
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 94°F
Cons
Violent crime (901.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Sacramento by $16,535/yr
Property crime (4911.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Sacramento
Median Income
$16,535
$78,954 vs $62,419/yr
Sacramento
Violent Crime
16% lower
754.9 vs 901.2 per 100k
Sacramento
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 85.5°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$303k less
$147,700 vs $450,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sacramento, CA | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $450,500⚠ High | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,592⚠ High | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,954 ✓ Higher | $62,419 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 121⚠ 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 | 22.0:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.8% ✓ Higher | 34.7% |
| High School or Higher | 86.4% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Sacramento City Unified | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.4" ✓ Drier | 40.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 21.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 523,600 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.7% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.0% ✓ More | 21.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.8% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sacramento's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sacramento leads 13 of 23 categories. Sacramento wins 13 and Springfield wins 10. 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 Sacramento to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($450,500 vs $147,700 median home), income ($78,954 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sacramento, CA and Springfield, IL are about 1,698 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.