Fort Lauderdale FL vs Springfield IL — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Florida · Population: 183,032

Median HH Income$79,935
Median Home Price$510,297
Unemployment5.3%
Bachelor's+39.8%

Springfield, IL

Illinois · Population: 113,714

Median HH Income$65,537
Median Home Price$168,312
Unemployment6.7%
Bachelor's+35.1%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population

Fort Lauderdale

183,032

Fort Lauderdale +

Springfield

113,714

Pop. Density / sq mi

Lower = more space

Fort Lauderdale

N/A

Springfield

N/A

Median Age

Fort Lauderdale

42.9

Springfield

40.7

Springfield +

Foreign Born

Fort Lauderdale

26.7%

Fort Lauderdale +

Springfield

4.5%

White

Fort Lauderdale

51.3%

Springfield

70.5%

Springfield +

Black

Fort Lauderdale

28.8%

Fort Lauderdale +

Springfield

19.8%

Asian

Fort Lauderdale

1.6%

Springfield

2.9%

Springfield +

Hispanic

Fort Lauderdale

20.1%

Fort Lauderdale +

Springfield

3.4%

Spanish at Home

Fort Lauderdale

N/A

Springfield

N/A

Metric	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Springfield, IL	Better
Population	183,032	113,714	Fort Lauderdale +
Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space	N/A	N/A	-
Median Age	42.9	40.7	Springfield +
Foreign Born	26.7%	4.5%	Fort Lauderdale +
White	51.3%	70.5%	Springfield +
Black	28.8%	19.8%	Fort Lauderdale +
Asian	1.6%	2.9%	Springfield +
Hispanic	20.1%	3.4%	Fort Lauderdale +
Spanish at Home	N/A	N/A	-

Economy

Median HH Income

Fort Lauderdale

$79,935

Fort Lauderdale +

Springfield

$65,537

Per Capita Income

Fort Lauderdale

$57,845

Fort Lauderdale +

Springfield

$41,110

Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)

BEA MSA-level

Fort Lauderdale

$65,328

Springfield

$68,110

Springfield +

Unemployment Rate

Fort Lauderdale

5.3%

Fort Lauderdale +

Springfield

6.7%

Poverty Rate

Fort Lauderdale

15.2%

Fort Lauderdale +

Springfield

16.5%

Bachelor's Degree+

Fort Lauderdale

39.8%

Fort Lauderdale +

Springfield

35.1%

Metric	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Springfield, IL	Better
Median HH Income	$79,935	$65,537	Fort Lauderdale +
Per Capita Income	$57,845	$41,110	Fort Lauderdale +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level	$65,328	$68,110	Springfield +
Unemployment Rate	5.3%	6.7%	Fort Lauderdale +
Poverty Rate	15.2%	16.5%	Fort Lauderdale +
Bachelor's Degree+	39.8%	35.1%	Fort Lauderdale +

Housing

Median Home Value

Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS

Fort Lauderdale

$510,297

Springfield

$168,312

Springfield +

Homeownership Rate

Fort Lauderdale

53.8%

Springfield

63.4%

Springfield +

Metric	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Springfield, IL	Better
Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS	$510,297	$168,312	Springfield +
Homeownership Rate	53.8%	63.4%	Springfield +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Fort Lauderdale

324

Fort Lauderdale +

Springfield

344

Property Crime / 100K

FBI CDE (state-level est.)

Fort Lauderdale

1453

Fort Lauderdale +

Springfield

1842

Metric	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Springfield, IL	Better
Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	324	344	Fort Lauderdale +
Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.)	1453	1842	Fort Lauderdale +

Health

Obesity Rate

CDC PLACES

Fort Lauderdale

30.3%

Fort Lauderdale +

Springfield

41.1%

Diabetes Rate

CDC PLACES

Fort Lauderdale

12.8%

Fort Lauderdale +

Springfield

12.9%

Poor Mental Health

CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month

Fort Lauderdale

16.2%

Fort Lauderdale +

Springfield

17.3%

No Health Insurance

CDC PLACES

Fort Lauderdale

14.7%

Springfield

8.2%

Springfield +

Binge Drinking

CDC PLACES

Fort Lauderdale

14.9%

Fort Lauderdale +

Springfield

16.7%

Current Smokers

CDC PLACES

Fort Lauderdale

13.0%

Fort Lauderdale +

Springfield

14.7%

Metric	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Springfield, IL	Better
Obesity RateCDC PLACES	30.3%	41.1%	Fort Lauderdale +
Diabetes RateCDC PLACES	12.8%	12.9%	Fort Lauderdale +
Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month	16.2%	17.3%	Fort Lauderdale +
No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES	14.7%	8.2%	Springfield +
Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES	14.9%	16.7%	Fort Lauderdale +
Current SmokersCDC PLACES	13.0%	14.7%	Fort Lauderdale +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Fort Lauderdale

75.5°F

Springfield

N/A

Annual Precipitation

NOAA 1991–2020 normal

Fort Lauderdale

66.5 in

Springfield

37.7 in

Springfield +

Metric	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Springfield, IL	Better
Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal	75.5°F	N/A	-
Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal	66.5 in	37.7 in	Springfield +

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg

EPA AQS (state-level est.)

Fort Lauderdale

7.2 µg/m³

Fort Lauderdale +

Springfield

9.4 µg/m³

Good Air Days

AQI ≤ 50

Fort Lauderdale

75.0%

Fort Lauderdale +

Springfield

55.0%

Metric	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Springfield, IL	Better
PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.)	7.2 µg/m³	9.4 µg/m³	Fort Lauderdale +
Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50	75.0%	55.0%	Fort Lauderdale +

Commute

Mean Commute Time

Census ACS

Fort Lauderdale

28.5 min

Springfield

19.4 min

Springfield +

Metric	Fort Lauderdale, FL	Springfield, IL	Better
Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS	28.5 min	19.4 min	Springfield +

Which City is Right for You?

Fort Lauderdale leads in median household income at $79,935, while springfield offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $168,312. On public safety, Fort Lauderdale is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 344 in Springfield. Fort Lauderdale has a lower unemployment rate at 5.3%, and Fort Lauderdale has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Fort Lauderdale scores better with a lower obesity rate of 30.3%.

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