The Town FilesSpringfield, Illinois
City in Sangamon County · population 114,394 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $162,100
- Household income
- $66,064
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 22 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 43
- Median age
- 41.0
Springfield is a city of 114,394 people in Sangamon County, Illinois. The median home is worth $162,100, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). It ranks better for cycling than 89% of Illinois towns, hipper than 87% of Illinois towns, better for young professionals than 83% of Illinois towns.
How Springfield ranks
Percentile among Illinois towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Illinois towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Springfield is worth $162,100, close to the typical Illinois town ($156,600). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $66,064, which is more affordable than 38% of Illinois towns. Median rent is $975 a month. 64.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Springfield | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $162,100 | $156,600 |
| Median rent | $975 | $960 |
| Median household income | $66,064 | $72,500 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 2.2× |
| Homeownership | 64.3% | 76.6% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1967 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Springfield
| People | Springfield | Typical Illinois town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.0 | 40.4 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.9% | 18.7% |
| Under 18 | 20.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 36.3% | 21.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 16.8% | 9.9% |
| Veterans | 6.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.9% | — |
| Work from home | 14.5% | 8.9% |
| Average commute | 17.4 min | 26.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.1% | 90.4% |
Weather in Springfield
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 18.6°F. About 40.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.8 inches of snow (typical Illinois town: 24.2 in). Expect about 23 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 114 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
43 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Springfield since 1950, compared with 27 for the typical Illinois town. 14 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on June 14, 1957 about 1.8 miles from the town center and killed 2. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 88 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 17, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 111 times; the largest was 3.25 inches on May 7, 2023.
Severe weather in Sangamon County since 1996
Sangamon County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4728: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 26, 2020 | Biological | DR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3435: Covid-19 |
| March 17, 2011 | Snowstorm | DR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| February 9, 2007 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1681: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Sangamon County
Sangamon County had 134,376 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $69,350 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Springfield itself the ACS puts it at 6.8%.
Public schools in Springfield
41 public schools with 12,920 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield High School | 9-12 | 1,446 | 18.1 |
| Springfield Southeast High Sch | 9-12 | 1,189 | 14.5 |
| Lanphier High School | 9-12 | 1,084 | 14.3 |
| Benjamin Franklin Middle School | 6-8 | 705 | 12.8 |
| Early Learning Center | PK-PK | 558 | 19.9 |
| U S Grant Middle School | 6-8 | 527 | 10.5 |
| Washington Middle School | 6-8 | 521 | 10.2 |
| Jefferson Middle School | 6-8 | 495 | 12.7 |
| Lindsay School | K-5 | 458 | 15.3 |
| Dubois Elem School | K-5 | 438 | 15.1 |
| Iles Elem School | 1-8 | 406 | 16.2 |
| Springfield Ball Charter School (charter) | K-8 | 394 | 15.8 |
Towns near Springfield
- Riverton, IL6.9 mi · 3,532 people · home $152,200
- Sherman, IL7.2 mi · 4,673 people · home $297,800
- Rochester, IL7.3 mi · 3,863 people · home $238,900
- Chatham, IL8.5 mi · 14,377 people · home $243,200
- Pawnee, IL14.0 mi · 2,678 people · home $149,500
- Auburn, IL15.8 mi · 4,574 people · home $149,600
- Virden, IL20.8 mi · 3,231 people · home $101,300
- Taylorville, IL23.8 mi · 10,506 people · home $104,100
Springfield questions
Is Springfield, Illinois a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Springfield scores better for retirees than 19% of Illinois towns and quieter than 23%. 19.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.0).
How much does a house cost in Springfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Springfield is valued at $162,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $66,064, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $975 a month.
What is the weather like in Springfield?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 18.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.5 inches of precipitation a year and 21.8 inches of snow.
Does Springfield get tornadoes?
43 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Springfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on June 14, 1957. The typical Illinois town has had 27.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)