Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Spokane Valley, WA
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories
Spokane Valley
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,483 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
103,761
Springfield
Illinois
12
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.
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
73% less violent crime than Springfield
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.8%)
Households earn $4,064 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $307,700
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Springfield
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $160k less ($147,700 vs $307,700)
Rent averages $262/mo less ($913 vs $1,175)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane Valley
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.8%)
Median income trails Spokane Valley by $4,064/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Spokane Valley
Median Income
$4,064
$66,483 vs $62,419/yr
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
73% lower
242.1 vs 901.2 per 100k
Spokane Valley
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.8% vs 6.6% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$160k less
$147,700 vs $307,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Spokane Valley, WA | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.0⚠ High | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $307,700⚠ High | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,175 | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,483 ✓ Higher | $62,419 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.4% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 105⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 167⚠ 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 | 17.6:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.3% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.2% ✓ Higher | 92.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | East Valley School District (Spokane) | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.8°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.1°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.4" ✓ Drier | 40.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 45.4" | 21.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 103,761 | 114,214 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.7% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.7% ✓ More | 21.6% |
| Over 65 | 17.5% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Spokane Valley's cost of living index is 101.0 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories. Spokane Valley 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 Spokane Valley to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($307,700 vs $147,700 median home), income ($66,483 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Spokane Valley, WA and Springfield, IL are about 1,471 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.