Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Springfield, IL
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 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 ✓ Larger
Vacaville
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,764 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
101,631
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $413k less ($147,700 vs $560,400)
Rent averages $1228/mo less ($913 vs $2,141)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Vacaville
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $44,345/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 5.4%)
Vacaville, CA
Pros
Households earn $44,345 more per year on average
67% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Springfield
Longer commutes — 28.9 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Springfield
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$413k less
$147,700 vs $560,400
Vacaville
Median Income
$44,345
$106,764 vs $62,419/yr
Vacaville
Violent Crime
67% lower
293.2 vs 901.2 per 100k
Vacaville
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.6% unemployment
Vacaville
Summer Heat
9.5°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Springfield, IL | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $147,700 ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $913 ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,419 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter | 28.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 236⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 237⚠ High | 77 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 234⚠ High | 83 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (111) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.7% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% ✓ Higher | 91.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Springfield SD 186 | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.8°F | 57.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.4" | 24.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,214 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 40.1 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.4% | 66.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.7% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Springfield's cost of living index is 90.5 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories. Springfield wins 12 and Vacaville 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 Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($147,700 vs $560,400 median home), income ($62,419 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Springfield, IL and Vacaville, CA are about 1,727 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.