Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Shreveport, LA
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield leads 16 of 23 categories
Shreveport
Louisiana
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,967
Violent Crime Index
323⚠ High
Population
186,183 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Illinois
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5
Median Household Income
$62,419 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
114,214
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Shreveport, LA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 36°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.1)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Springfield
Cons
Median income trails Springfield by $16,452/yr
Violent crime (1228.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 6.6%)
Springfield, IL
Pros
27% less violent crime than Shreveport
Households earn $16,452 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (6.6%)
Homes cost $21k less ($147,700 vs $168,900)
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
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Shreveport
Key Differences at a Glance
Shreveport
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 87.1 vs 90.5 (100 = US avg)
Shreveport
Summer Heat
8.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 85.5°F
Springfield
Median Income
$16,452
$62,419 vs $45,967/yr
Springfield
Violent Crime
27% lower
901.2 vs 1228.5 per 100k
Springfield
Median Home Value
$21k less
$147,700 vs $168,900
Springfield
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
6.6% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Shreveport, LA | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.1 ✓ Cheaper | 90.5 |
| Median Home Value | $168,900 | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $945 | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $45,967 | $62,419 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.7% | 10.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 270⚠ High | 236⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 323⚠ High | 237⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.2:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.6% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Caddo Parish | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.4°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" | 40.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.9" ✓ Less | 21.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,183 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 37.1 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.8% ✓ More | 21.6% |
| Over 65 | 17.1% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Shreveport's cost of living index is 87.1 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Shreveport is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 16 of 23 categories. Shreveport wins 7 and Springfield wins 16. 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 Shreveport to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,900 vs $147,700 median home), income ($45,967 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Shreveport, LA and Springfield, IL are about 556 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.