Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Springfield, IL
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories
Springfield
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High
Population
114,214
Wilmington
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1
Median Household Income
$58,908
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
116,933 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $171k less ($147,700 vs $318,600)
Rent averages $300/mo less ($913 vs $1,213)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.5)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Wilmington
Households earn $3,511 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
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
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.9%)
Wilmington, NC
Pros
46% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 36°F
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $318,600
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Springfield
Key Differences at a Glance
Springfield
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 97.1 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Income
$3,511
$62,419 vs $58,908/yr
Springfield
Median Home Value
$171k less
$147,700 vs $318,600
Wilmington
Violent Crime
46% lower
482.8 vs 901.2 per 100k
Wilmington
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.9% vs 6.6% unemployment
Wilmington
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 85.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Springfield, IL | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper | 97.1 |
| Median Home Value | $147,700 ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $913 ✓ Lower | $1,213 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,419 ✓ Higher | $58,908 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter | 18.6 min |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 236⚠ High | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 237⚠ High | 127⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 234⚠ High | 167⚠ High ✓ 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 | 15.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.7% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.0% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Springfield SD 186 | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.8°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 85.5°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.4" ✓ Drier | 60.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 21.8" | 0.9" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,214 | 116,933 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.1 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.4% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.6% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 18.7% ✓ More | 17.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Springfield's cost of living index is 90.5 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories. Springfield wins 12 and Wilmington 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 Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($147,700 vs $318,600 median home), income ($62,419 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Springfield, IL and Wilmington, NC are about 754 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.