Sacramento CA 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)

Sacramento, CA

California · Population: 524,802

  • Median HH Income$83,753
  • Median Home Price$480,548
  • Unemployment6.2%
  • Bachelor's+36.4%

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
Sacramento
524,802
Sacramento +
Springfield
113,714
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Sacramento
N/A
Springfield
N/A
Median Age
Sacramento
35.7
Sacramento +
Springfield
40.7
Foreign Born
Sacramento
21.3%
Sacramento +
Springfield
4.5%
White
Sacramento
36.8%
Springfield
70.5%
Springfield +
Black
Sacramento
12.4%
Springfield
19.8%
Springfield +
Asian
Sacramento
19.7%
Sacramento +
Springfield
2.9%
Hispanic
Sacramento
29.5%
Sacramento +
Springfield
3.4%
Spanish at Home
Sacramento
N/A
Springfield
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Sacramento
$83,753
Sacramento +
Springfield
$65,537
Per Capita Income
Sacramento
$42,300
Sacramento +
Springfield
$41,110
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Sacramento
$77,230
Sacramento +
Springfield
$68,110
Unemployment Rate
Sacramento
6.2%
Sacramento +
Springfield
6.7%
Poverty Rate
Sacramento
14.4%
Sacramento +
Springfield
16.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
Sacramento
36.4%
Sacramento +
Springfield
35.1%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Sacramento
$480,548
Springfield
$168,312
Springfield +
Homeownership Rate
Sacramento
51.5%
Springfield
63.4%
Springfield +

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Sacramento
503
Springfield
344
Springfield +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Sacramento
2388
Springfield
1842
Springfield +

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Sacramento
30.0%
Sacramento +
Springfield
41.1%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Sacramento
11.2%
Sacramento +
Springfield
12.9%
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Sacramento
17.9%
Springfield
17.3%
Springfield +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Sacramento
10.0%
Springfield
8.2%
Springfield +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Sacramento
14.3%
Sacramento +
Springfield
16.7%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Sacramento
11.9%
Sacramento +
Springfield
14.7%

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Sacramento
61.0°F
Springfield
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Sacramento
18.5 in
Sacramento +
Springfield
37.7 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Sacramento
7.9 µg/m³
Sacramento +
Springfield
9.4 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Sacramento
75.0%
Sacramento +
Springfield
55.0%

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Sacramento
27.0 min
Springfield
19.4 min
Springfield +

Which City is Right for You?

Sacramento leads in median household income at $83,753, while springfield offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $168,312. On public safety, Springfield is safer with a violent crime rate of 344 per 100,000 residents, compared to 503 in Sacramento. Sacramento has a lower unemployment rate at 6.2%, and Sacramento has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.9 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Sacramento scores better with a lower obesity rate of 30.0%.

Compare More Cities

About Sacramento & Springfield