Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Springfield, IL
VS
Waterbury, CT
🏆 Springfield leads 16 of 23 categories
Springfield
Illinois
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High
Population
114,214
Waterbury
Connecticut
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
95.1
Median Household Income
$51,451
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
114,480 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Springfield, IL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (6.6%)
Rent averages $227/mo less ($913 vs $1,140)
Households earn $10,968 more per year on average
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Homes cost $15k less ($147,700 vs $162,800)
Cons
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
Waterbury, CT
Pros
64% less violent crime than Springfield
Cons
Median income trails Springfield by $10,968/yr
Property crime (2918.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.8% vs 6.6%)
Snowy winters — about 47" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Springfield
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 95.1 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Income
$10,968
$62,419 vs $51,451/yr
Springfield
Median Home Value
$15k less
$147,700 vs $162,800
Springfield
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
6.6% vs 9.8% unemployment
Waterbury
Violent Crime
64% lower
322.5 vs 901.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Springfield, IL | Waterbury, CT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper | 95.1 |
| Median Home Value | $147,700 ✓ Lower | $162,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $913 ✓ Lower | $1,140 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,419 ✓ Higher | $51,451 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 236⚠ High | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 237⚠ High | 85 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 234⚠ High | 139⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (111) ✓ Better | B- (91) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.7% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% ✓ Higher | 81.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Springfield SD 186 | Waterbury School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.8°F | 37.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.4" ✓ Drier | 52.6" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.8" ✓ Less | 46.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,214 | 114,480 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.1 ✓ Older | 36.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.4% ✓ Higher | 43.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.7% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Springfield's cost of living index is 90.5 vs Waterbury's 95.1 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 16 of 23 categories. Springfield wins 16 and Waterbury wins 7. 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 Waterbury or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($147,700 vs $162,800 median home), income ($62,419 vs $51,451), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Springfield, IL and Waterbury, CT are about 877 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.