Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Springfield, IL
VS
Stamford, CT
🏆 Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories
Springfield
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High
Population
114,214
Stamford
Connecticut
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$100,718 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41 ✓ Safer
Population
135,413 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $437k less ($147,700 vs $584,700)
Rent averages $1216/mo less ($913 vs $2,129)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Stamford
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Cons
Median income trails Stamford by $38,299/yr
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 5.5%)
Stamford, CT
Pros
83% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $38,299 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (157.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 50.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $584,700
Higher rents — median is $2,129/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Springfield
Longer commutes — 27.8 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Springfield
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$437k less
$147,700 vs $584,700
Stamford
Median Income
$38,299
$100,718 vs $62,419/yr
Stamford
Violent Crime
83% lower
157.5 vs 901.2 per 100k
Stamford
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.5% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Springfield, IL | Stamford, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper | 106.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $147,700 ✓ Lower | $584,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $913 ✓ Lower | $2,129⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,419 | $100,718 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 14.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 236⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 237⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 234⚠ High | 58 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (111) | A (120) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.7% | 50.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% ✓ Higher | 88.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Springfield SD 186 | Stamford School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.8°F | 38.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.4" ✓ Drier | 50.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.8" ✓ Less | 34.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,214 | 135,413 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.1 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.4% ✓ Higher | 46.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% ✓ More | 19.2% |
| Over 65 | 18.7% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Springfield's cost of living index is 90.5 vs Stamford's 106.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories. Springfield wins 12 and Stamford wins 11. 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 Stamford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($147,700 vs $584,700 median home), income ($62,419 vs $100,718), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Springfield, IL and Stamford, CT are about 850 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.