Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Springfield, IL
VS
St. George, UT
🏆 St. George leads 15 of 23 categories
Springfield
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High
Population
114,214 ✓ Larger
St. George
Utah
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$69,333 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
96,174
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $268k less ($147,700 vs $415,200)
Rent averages $422/mo less ($913 vs $1,335)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 102°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than St. George
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 3.3%)
Median income trails St. George by $6,914/yr
St. George, UT
Pros
77% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (3.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 36°F
Households earn $6,914 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,200
Higher rents — median is $1,335/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Springfield
Key Differences at a Glance
Springfield
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$268k less
$147,700 vs $415,200
St. George
Median Income
$6,914
$69,333 vs $62,419/yr
St. George
Violent Crime
77% lower
210.0 vs 901.2 per 100k
St. George
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
3.3% vs 6.6% unemployment
St. George
Summer Heat
16.4°F warmer
July avg high 101.9°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Springfield, IL | St. George, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper | 96.1 |
| Median Home Value | $147,700 ✓ Lower | $415,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $913 ✓ Lower | $1,335⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,419 | $69,333 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.6 min | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 236⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 237⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 234⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (111) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.7% ✓ Higher | 32.6% |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Springfield SD 186 | Washington District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.8°F | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.4" | 9.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.8" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,214 ✓ Larger | 96,174 |
| Median Age | 40.1 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.4% | 67.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.7% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Springfield's cost of living index is 90.5 vs St. George's 96.1 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. George leads 15 of 23 categories. Springfield wins 8 and St. George wins 15. 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 Springfield to St. George or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($147,700 vs $415,200 median home), income ($62,419 vs $69,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Springfield, IL and St. George, UT are about 1,305 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.