City Profile

Springfield, Illinois

USA · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

Overall Score

Springfield, Illinois, serves as the vibrant capital city of the state and the county seat of Sangamon County. Steeped in deep American history, the city is world-renowned as the long-time home of Abraham Lincoln, featuring iconic landmarks such as the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and his historic family home. Beyond its rich heritage, Springfield functions as a major administrative, healthcare, and commercial hub for central Illinois, offering residents a blend of small-town charm and steady urban amenities. People are drawn to Springfield for its historic character, strong community identity, and remarkably reasonable cost of living compared to larger metropolitan centers.

About Illinois

Illinois, known as the "Prairie State," offers a diverse character ranging from the bustling metropolis of Chicago to expansive farmlands. Its economy is among the largest and most diversified in the U.S., with major industries including advanced manufacturing, agriculture and food processing, life sciences, technology, and transportation and logistics. While the cost of living statewide is generally considered moderate, housing costs in Chicago can be higher than the national average. Illinois experiences all four seasons, with hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters, and is susceptible to severe storms and tornadoes, particularly in spring. Residents enjoy a lifestyle that balances world-class cultural amenities and career opportunities with challenges such as high taxes and urban congestion.

112,989

Population

$69K

Avg Salary

Cost Index

58.9

Quality Score

How this 59/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them

Component	Readings used	Points	Weight	Contributes
Safety	Safety score: 65 / 100	65.0	30%	19.5
Affordability	Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 93.0	52.5	25%	13.1
Economy & jobs	Median household income: $66,064 Income needed to live here: $52,000 Unemployment rate: 4.1%	66.3	20%	13.3
Growth	Population growth rate: no usable reading Job growth rate: 1.1%	42.0	15%	6.3
Business climate assessment	Business climate assessment: 67 / 100	67.0	10%	6.7
Overall score				58.9

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Gemini (ungrounded) (q=55, partial — below threshold), last refreshed 11 October 2026. They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.

Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.

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Performance

Quality Scores

Business

Livability

Affordability

Growth

Expenses

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Springfield is distinctly lower than the national average, making it an attractive destination for families, professionals, and retirees seeking financial breathing room. Housing expenses, in particular, remain well below national medians, allowing residents to purchase larger homes or secure rental units at a fraction of the cost found in Chicago or national coastal markets. Everyday goods, utilities, and transportation expenses also track below national benchmarks, supported by regional economic pricing that eases the financial pressure on middle-and lower-income households.

Average Rent

$1,200/mo

Groceries

$400/mo

Transport

$110/mo

Utilities

$180/mo

Healthcare

$220/mo

Gym membership (monthly)

$45.00

Cinema ticket

$13.00

Restaurant meal (mid-range)

$22.00

Monthly groceries

$400.00

Doctor visit (without insurance)

$145.00

Income

Salary Insights

Springfield's economy is anchored by government administration, healthcare systems, and insurance enterprises, providing a stable employment base. Major employers include the State of Illinois, Memorial Health, and HSHS St. John's Hospital, which drive steady demand for administrative, professional, and medical occupations. While heavy manufacturing plays a smaller role, the region has fostered a growing entrepreneurial ecosystem and reliable service sectors. The remote work scene is also expanding as professionals take advantage of affordable housing and robust local broadband infrastructure.

The average salary in Springfield is $69,000 per year. You would need approximately $52,000 to live comfortably.

Employment

Top Industries

Retail Trade +1.00% Educational Services +1.20% Healthcare and Social Assistance +2.10% Finance and Insurance +1.40% Government and Public Administration +0.80%

Weather

Climate

🌡️

55°F

Avg Temp

☀️

85°F

Summer High

❄️

21°F

Winter Low

🌧️

30.10"

Annual Rain

💧

65.00%

Humidity

🌤️

265

Sunny Days

Mobility

Transport

Getting around Springfield is primarily car-dependent, with most residents commuting via personal vehicles over relatively short average travel times. The Sangamon Mass Transit District (SMTD) provides public bus services across the city, though routes are most concentrated around central corridors. Walkability and bike infrastructure are moderate in downtown and historic neighborhoods, but vehicular transport remains the dominant and most efficient mode of travel.

20 min

Avg Commute

45.00/10

Transit Score

52.00/10

Walkability

High

Car Dependency

At a Glance

Pros & Cons

Advantages

Median home values in Springfield are roughly 51% below the national average per U.S. Census Bureau data.

The cost of living sits approximately 7.3% below the national average according to BEA regional price parities.

Springfield offers an average commute time of roughly 20 minutes, significantly shorter than the national average.

The city boasts top-tier regional healthcare facilities, serving as a major medical hub for central Illinois.

Rich historical heritage centered around Abraham Lincoln provides unique cultural tourism and educational assets.

Drawbacks

The city has experienced slight population contractions over recent census estimates due to regional migration patterns.

Certain urban core neighborhoods experience elevated property crime rates relative to suburban boundaries.

Public transit options outside of core bus routes are limited, maintaining a high reliance on personal vehicles.

State-level budget shifts and local tax structures can create periodic fiscal pressures for municipal services.

Winters can bring harsh freezing temperatures and snowfall, requiring active property and roadway maintenance.

Head to Head

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Springfield VS Grants Pass Springfield VS Syracuse Springfield VS Bloomington Springfield VS Toledo

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Nearby Cities

Peoria

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Champaign

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Community Q&A

Questions about Springfield

What people ask about living in and moving to Springfield, Illinois.

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Gathering the most common questions about Springfield…

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Urblytica benchmarks its Cost of Living Index against a United States national average baseline of 100. A score of 115 means a city is approximately 15% more expensive than the national average, while a score of 85 indicates it is 15% more affordable. This composite calculation is weighted across six primary expenditure categories: housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, healthcare, and miscellaneous goods.

Urblytica aggregates housing data from multiple authoritative sources, including Multiple Listing Service (MLS) feeds, municipal property tax registries, the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), and verified historical deed transactions. This multi-tier aggregation ensures precision in tracking median home values and rental rates.

A municipality must meet minimum data-density thresholds—including consistent reporting population samples from the U.S. Census and active residential or commercial real estate transaction feeds—to ensure statistical significance before a complete scoring profile is published.

When primary agencies (such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics or U.S. Census Bureau) issue historical data revisions or benchmark corrections, Urblytica's data pipeline automatically re-indexes affected historical archives to maintain longitudinal trend accuracy.

U.S. affordability calculations incorporate federal income tax brackets, state-specific income tax rates, and local municipal tax variations to evaluate the true net tax drag on median household earnings across different states and cities.

Local county and municipal property tax millage rates are factored directly into the housing component of the cost-of-living index to reflect recurring annual tax burdens for homeowners.

The platform aggregates state sales taxes alongside county and city surtaxes to measure consumer basket purchasing power parity accurately across different retail jurisdictions.

Utility calculations apply regional seasonal consumption weightings, incorporating high summer air conditioning loads in southern states and heavy winter heating demands in northern states.

The index tracks average out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, routine outpatient visit costs, and regional health insurance premium benchmarks published by federal health agencies.

Educational metrics aggregate state standardized testing benchmarks, student-to-teacher ratios, high school graduation rates, and per-pupil expenditure data published by state departments of education.

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