Charleston vs Springfield
The short version
- Charleston is cheaper overall: prices in its metro run 4% lower than in the Springfield area (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $162,100 in Springfield and $203,300 in Charleston.
- Charleston has the warmer winter: January highs of 44°F vs 36°F.
- Charleston gets far more snow: 32 inches a year vs 22.
- Springfield is growing faster: -1.4% since 2020 vs -5.5%.
Side by side
| Charleston, WV | Springfield, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 46,117 | 112,989 |
| Growth since 2020 | -5.5% | -1.4% |
| People per square mile | 1,469 | 1,844 |
| Median age | 43.0 | 41.0 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 45% | 36% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $65,812 | $66,064 |
| Median home value | $203,300 | $162,100 |
| Home value to income | 3.1× | 2.5× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $908 | $975 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 88.7 | 92.7 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 51.4 | 71.6 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $66,500 | $69,600 |
| Homeowners | 63% | 64% |
| Top state income tax | 4.82% | 4.95% |
| Combined sales tax | 6.6% | 8.98% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 16.9 | 17.4 |
| Work from home | 13% | 15% |
| Take public transit | 1% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 6.5% | 6.8% |
| Poverty rate | 15.8% | 16.8% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 44° / 26° | 36° / 20° |
| July high / low | 86° / 66° | 87° / 66° |
| Precipitation per year | 46 in | 38 in |
| Snowfall per year | 32 in | 22 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 24 | 28 |
| Nights below freezing | 94 | 111 |
| Comfortable months | 4 | 4 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively High | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 94.5 | 91.7 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 77% | 70% |
| Home prices, past year | +10.5% | +5.1% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +40.1% | +42.1% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Charleston: April and August to October. Springfield: April and August to October.
Full monthly tables: Charleston weather by month and Springfield weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $66,500 in Charleston and $69,600 in Springfield. Moving from Charleston to Springfield, you would need about $78,400 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
One vote per person. Results show after you vote.