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Illinois city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Springfield?

What it costs to live in Springfield, and how it compares with other Illinois cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

42

120th best value in Illinois

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Illinois cities.

Overall livability

23

158th overall in Illinois

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Springfield is home to about 114,672 people. A typical home runs $132,900 and a household earns around $57,600, a price-to-income ratio of 2.3. Among Illinois's largest cities, it ranks 120th for value and 158th overall.

Springfield at a glance

Median home price

$132,900

42nd in IL of 163

Median rent

$852/mo

Median household income

$57,600

Home price to income

2.3x

Unemployment

6.5%

116th in IL of 163

School rating

4/10

134th in IL of 163

Air quality (AQI)

45

0th in IL of 163

Walk score

13/100

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‹ See all top Illinois cities ranked  ยท  Illinois state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Illinois only. Updated 2026.