Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Springfield, IL
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 14 of 23 categories
Springfield
Illinois
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High
Population
114,214
Virginia Beach
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4
Median Household Income
$87,544 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
24 ✓ Safer
Population
457,900 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $196k less ($147,700 vs $343,700)
Rent averages $655/mo less ($913 vs $1,568)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Virginia Beach
Cons
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $25,125/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 4.3%)
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
90% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $25,125 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.3%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 36°F
More college-educated — 39.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $343,700
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
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
$196k less
$147,700 vs $343,700
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$25,125
$87,544 vs $62,419/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
90% lower
92.3 vs 901.2 per 100k
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Springfield, IL | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper | 97.4 |
| Median Home Value | $147,700 ✓ Lower | $343,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $913 ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,419 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.5 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 236⚠ High | 46 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 237⚠ High | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 234⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (111) ✓ Better | B+ (109) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.7% | 39.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Springfield SD 186 | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.8°F | 50.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 87.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.4" ✓ Drier | 54.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.8" | 3.4" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,214 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.1 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.4% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.7% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Springfield's cost of living index is 90.5 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 14 of 23 categories. Springfield wins 9 and Virginia Beach wins 14. 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 Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($147,700 vs $343,700 median home), income ($62,419 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Springfield, IL and Virginia Beach, VA are about 766 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.