Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Springfield, IL
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Springfield leads 13 of 23 categories
Springfield
Illinois
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High
Population
114,214 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,758 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
98 ✓ Safer
Population
94,856
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $167k less ($147,700 vs $314,400)
Rent averages $463/mo less ($913 vs $1,376)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Suffolk
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Suffolk by $25,339/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
Suffolk, VA
Pros
59% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $25,339 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $314,400
Higher rents — median is $1,376/mo
Longer commutes — 29.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Springfield
Key Differences at a Glance
Springfield
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 97.4 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$167k less
$147,700 vs $314,400
Suffolk
Median Income
$25,339
$87,758 vs $62,419/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
59% lower
371.0 vs 901.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Springfield, IL | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $147,700 ✓ Lower | $314,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $913 ✓ Lower | $1,376⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,419 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter | 29.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 236⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 237⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 234⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (111) ✓ Better | B (99) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.7% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% ✓ Higher | 91.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Springfield SD 186 | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.8°F | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 86.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.4" ✓ Drier | 51.8" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.8" | 5.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,214 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 40.1 ✓ Older | 38.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.4% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.7% ✓ More | 14.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Springfield's cost of living index is 90.5 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 13 of 23 categories. Springfield wins 13 and Suffolk wins 10. 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 Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($147,700 vs $314,400 median home), income ($62,419 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Springfield, IL and Suffolk, VA are about 737 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.