Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Spokane, WA
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories
Spokane
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,316 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
227,922 ✓ 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.
Spokane, WA
Pros
25% less violent crime than Springfield
Cons
Violent crime (674.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4840.8/100k) 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 $139k less ($147,700 vs $286,900)
Rent averages $147/mo less ($913 vs $1,060)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Spokane
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
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
Key Differences at a Glance
Spokane
Median Income
$897
$63,316 vs $62,419/yr
Spokane
Violent Crime
25% lower
674.9 vs 901.2 per 100k
Springfield
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 101.0 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$139k less
$147,700 vs $286,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Spokane, WA | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.0⚠ High | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $286,900 | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,316 ✓ Higher | $62,419 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.7 min | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.0% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 231⚠ High ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.7% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.2% ✓ Higher | 92.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Spokane School District | 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 | 227,922 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 40.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.5% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | 21.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 18.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Spokane'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 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 to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($286,900 vs $147,700 median home), income ($63,316 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Spokane, WA and Springfield, IL are about 1,480 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.