Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Springfield, IL
VS
Westminster, CA
🏆 Springfield leads 15 of 23 categories
Springfield
Illinois
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High
Population
114,214 ✓ Larger
Westminster
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,271 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
90,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $629k less ($147,700 vs $777,100)
Rent averages $1064/mo less ($913 vs $1,977)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Westminster
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (6.6%)
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (901.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Westminster by $17,852/yr
Property crime (4911.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Westminster, CA
Pros
52% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $17,852 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 69°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $777,100
Higher rents — median is $1,977/mo
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Springfield
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Springfield
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$629k less
$147,700 vs $777,100
Springfield
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.5% unemployment
Springfield
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 85.5°F vs 82.5°F
Westminster
Median Income
$17,852
$80,271 vs $62,419/yr
Westminster
Violent Crime
52% lower
436.2 vs 901.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Springfield, IL | Westminster, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $147,700 ✓ Lower | $777,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $913 ✓ Lower | $1,977⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,419 | $80,271 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ Higher | 9.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 236⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 237⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 234⚠ High | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (111) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.7% ✓ Higher | 26.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% ✓ Higher | 77.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Springfield SD 186 | Westminster |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.8°F | 69.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.4" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,214 ✓ Larger | 90,638 |
| Median Age | 40.1 | 41.6 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.4% ✓ Higher | 52.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 18.7% ✓ More | 17.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Springfield's cost of living index is 90.5 vs Westminster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 15 of 23 categories. Springfield wins 15 and Westminster wins 8. 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 Westminster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($147,700 vs $777,100 median home), income ($62,419 vs $80,271), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Springfield, IL and Westminster, CA are about 1,616 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.