Cost of Living and Education

 

 

Cost of Living

There are many things to consider when choosing where to live. The cost of living is obviously an important one.  In Springfield, necessities like groceries, housing and utilities can be as much as 50 percent less than in other Midwestern cities.

As of April 2021, Realtor.com reported the median home listing price in Springfield was around $125,000. Zillow.com reported an average home value of $129,000, a 4.7% increase over the previous year. A typical home mortgage and utility expense was $921 per month, and renters in Springfield paid $805 per month (Towncharts.com).

The affordable cost of living also promotes savings. The website Moneyunder30.com ranked Springfield as #2 on its list of “The Best Cities in America for Young Adults to Get Rich.”

We may be the biggest city in the middle of the Prairie State, but we are proud of our small town roots. There are more than 50 neighborhood associations to promote community interests and “curb appeal.” According to AARP, Springfield is rated third in the medium-city category of the best cities to make new friends.

Springfield’s unemployment rate mirrors the national average, and it is consistently below the average for the state of Illinois. The two largest employment sectors in the city are health care/social services and public administration/government, which add to its economic stability.

Education

Springfield also offers a strong public school system, as well as a wide array of private schooling options from pre-K through grade 12. SPS 186, the public school district for the city of Springfield, offers a variety of learning programs, before and after-school programs, the state-supported Early Start pre-kindergarten program, volunteering and mentorship programs.

Something unique to our area is the Physician Pipeline Preparatory Program (P4). It is a joint effort with SIU School of Medicine that places 9th grade students who are interested in a medical career alongside medical students and professionals for a rigorous medical-school style curriculum, introducing them to the field of medicine and exposing them to dozens of physician career possibilities.

For adults, there are several choices for continuing education and pursuing advance degrees or trade certifications. Here are some links to help you learn more about education and the institutions in our area.

Area Schools


Colleges and Universities