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Springfield

#7 in Best Places to Live in Springfield, IL Area
  • B+
    Overall Grade
  • City in Illinois
  • 215 reviews
    B+
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Public Schools
      B-
    2. Crime & Safety
      C
    3. Housing
      B
    4. Nightlife
      A
    5. Good for Families
      B
    6. Diversity
      A
    7. Jobs
      B
    8. Weather
      B-
    9. Cost of Living
      A-
    10. Health & Fitness
      B
    11. Outdoor Activities
      B-
    12. Commute
      A-
    View Full Report Card
    Springfield is a city in Illinois with a population of 116,313. Springfield is in Sangamon County. Living in Springfield offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Springfield there are a lot of bars, restaurants, and parks. Many families and young professionals live in Springfield and residents tend to have moderate political views. The public schools in Springfield are above average.
    About Springfield...
    Population
    116,313

    Real Estate

    Median Home Value
    $125,600
    National
    $184,700
    Median Rent
    $765
    National
    $949
    Area Feel
    Dense Suburban
    Rent vs. Own
    • Rent
      38%
    • Own
      62%
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    Niche may be compensated by the third party lenders and others who place ads on the website. Niche is not a lender and does not endorse the products of these advertisers. Fees that Niche receives for ads do not affect the terms you may be offered by the lender you choose. There are many additional borrowing options available.

    Springfield Rankings

    Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.

    Crime & Safety

    Crime & Safety
    C
    Based on violent and property crime rates.
    Violent Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Assault
      555.7
      282.7
    • Murder
      7.9
      6.1
    • Rape
      81.1
      40.7
    • Robbery
      188.4
      135.5
    Property Crimes
    • Calculated annually per 100,000 residents
    National
    • Burglary
      1,042.5
      500.1
    • Theft
      3,528.1
      2,042.8
    • Motor Vehicle Theft
      216.4
      284

    Residents

    Diversity
    A
    Based on ethnic and economic diversity.
    Age
    • <10 years
      12%
    • 10-17 years
      10%
    • 18-24 years
      9%
    • 25-34 years
      14%
    • 35-44 years
      12%
    • 45-54 years
      13%
    • 55-64 years
      14%
    • 65+ years
      16%
    Education Levels
    National
    • Master's degree or higher
      14%
      12%
    • Bachelor's degree
      22%
      19%
    • Some college or associate's degree
      29%
      29%
    • High school diploma or equivalent
      26%
      28%
    • Less than high school diploma
      9%
      13%
    • Public Schools
    • Private Schools
    • Colleges

    Working in Springfield

    Jobs
    B
    Based on employment rates, job and business growth, and cost of living.
    Median Household Income
    $51,789
    National
    $55,322
    Search for Jobs in Springfield
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    Springfield Reviews

    215 reviews
    All Categories
    I have grown up and have lived in Springfield Illinois my entire life. I have visited other cities for various reasons but am very glad that I can call Springfield my home. I have always felt safe in the public high school I attended. I am thankful for the Catholic education I received at Blessed Sacrament School. I love the fact I lived near Washington Park. There are so many things that one can do there, the Route 66 festival downtown, Blues and Barbeque, to the annual city basketball tournament. It has over 117,000 people yet seems like a small town. The news coverage is adequate n most things but very good on high school sports. Lake Springfield is great for boating and fishing or just enjoying a sunset. Its's not just a punchline of the cartoon show the Simpsons. It a real town that was great to be from!
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    I have lived in Springfield my entire life. It is a great area to raise a family. I have gone to private schools throughout my life and received a great education. However, tuition for those schools were expensive. It would be great to see the public school system in the area improved. There is a good variety of restaurants and shopping. We have an airport which can make it convenient to travel. We also hold the state fair every year in which there is always fun activities, concerts, and yummy food!
    I think this rating is terrible! I believe with all my heart that the cost of living here is very high. I am not sure how Niche came to get their information, but this capital city is full of wealthy politicians who buy expensive homes, expensive cars, and other expensive toys! This drives the prices of average items way up. While I was raised in an upper middle class home, graduated from college and attended some graduate school, taught in one of Springfield's finest private schools, I became disabled after a serious accident and can no longer work. The very small amount I get from SS disability does not pay my bills AND afford me to buy food to stay healthy! this is one reason why I can say for sure the cost of living is WAY too high!