Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Springfield, IL
VS
Vallejo, CA
🏆 Springfield leads 14 of 23 categories
Springfield
Illinois
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High
Population
114,214
Vallejo
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,112 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
125,132 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $368k less ($147,700 vs $515,500)
Rent averages $981/mo less ($913 vs $1,894)
Commutes run 19 min shorter each way
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Vallejo
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 Vallejo by $23,693/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
Vallejo, CA
Pros
Households earn $23,693 more per year on average
18% less violent crime than Springfield
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $515,500
Higher rents — median is $1,894/mo
Violent crime (739.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Springfield
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
$368k less
$147,700 vs $515,500
Vallejo
Median Income
$23,693
$86,112 vs $62,419/yr
Vallejo
Violent Crime
18% lower
739.8 vs 901.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Springfield, IL | Vallejo, 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 | $515,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $913 ✓ Lower | $1,894⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,419 | $86,112 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter | 36.7 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 236⚠ High | 193⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 237⚠ High | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 234⚠ High | 190⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (111) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.7% ✓ Higher | 27.5% |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Springfield SD 186 | Vallejo City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.8°F | 57.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer | 85.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.4" | 21.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,214 | 125,132 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.1 | 40.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.4% ✓ Higher | 58.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% ✓ More | 20.3% |
| Over 65 | 18.7% ✓ More | 17.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Springfield's cost of living index is 90.5 vs Vallejo's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 14 of 23 categories. Springfield wins 14 and Vallejo wins 9. 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 Vallejo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($147,700 vs $515,500 median home), income ($62,419 vs $86,112), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Springfield, IL and Vallejo, CA are about 1,747 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.