The contiguous United States features many interesting cities, climate zones, tourist attractions, and more. With hundreds of years of history behind it, every city seemingly has a story that sets it apart from others, even within the same state. In fact, the abundance of these cities has flourished so much in the last few centuries that a few repeated cities are to be expected, including the city of Springfield.

If you hear the name “Springfield,” which state do you think of? Do you think of the humidity of the Illinois-based town with snowy winters and Abraham Lincoln’s former home? Do you think about the city made famous by an animated television show? While these cities might share the same name, they are over 2,000 miles apart, putting them in completely different environments with a variety of important wildlife and plants.

With the many differences between these two cities, finding their similarities is just as exciting. Let’s discuss the differences between the Illinois and Oregon cities.

Comparing Springfield (IL) vs. Springfield (OR)

	Springfield (IL)	Springfield (OR)
Location	Illinois	Oregon
Population	111,711	62,178
Local weather/environment	Warm and humid summers, extremely cold and snowy winters	Warm and dry summers, wet and cold winters.
Prominent wildlife	Bison, raccoons, deer mice, and bobcats with occasional mountain lion	Bison, black bears, coyotes, otters, mountain lions, and gray wolves
Common plants	Scarlet sage, pickerel rush, and Brown’s honeysuckle	Common snowberry, red alder, and western dogwood
Most famous tourist attraction	Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum	Shoppes at Gateway
Cost of housing	$204,300	$405,500
Crime rate	Twice the national average	Slightly under the national average
Age	202 years	138 years

Key Differences of Springfield (IL) vs. Springfield (OR)

Springfield (IL) vs. Springfield (OR): Population

One of the easiest ways to differentiate between these two Springfield locations is with their population. While the 2023 population of Oregon is over 62,000, the Illinois city is almost double the same population with over 111,000 people.

With a fairly even ratio of males to females, the average age of residents in both cities is 25-34 years old. In Illinois, the number of family households with children is double the total number in Oregon’s Springfield.

Springfield (IL) vs. Springfield (OR): Local Weather And Environment

If you take a journey to Illinois, you’ll find that their Springfield city features a long and humid summer with temperatures of 79° to 93° F. These summers are just one example of the varied climate of the state, leading to cold winters. Illinois gets about 36 inches of snow in the north during colder weather, getting about 32 inches of rain throughout the whole year.

In Oregon, you won’t experience any humidity generally. Their summers are mildly warm and dry, saving the wet weather for winter. Much of the colder months come with a smattering of clouds, causing a dark overcast towards the end of the year.

Springfield (IL) vs. Springfield (OR): Wildlife

Whether you go to Illinois or Oregon, the biggest mammal to watch out for is the bison. As the largest North American mammal, these beasts sometimes weigh up to 2,000 feet tall with 6 feet of height, standing above many adults. Despite their bulk, they move quickly, running 35-40 miles per hour. Every state has herds of bison, so sharing this mammal between these two cities is unsurprising.

However, that’s where the similarities end. The wildlife in these two locations is based on the local environment. Despite having dry summers, the Oregon city is near the mountains of the state, which means that you can see black bears, coyotes, otters, wolves, and mountain lions. If you have the humidity and forested areas of Illinois, much of the common wildlife consists of rodents like deer mice, or raccoons. However, there have been several mountain lion sightings on occasion as well.

Springfield (IL) vs. Springfield (OR): Plant Life

When you’re in this Illinois city, the most common plants you’ll see include the scarlet sage. While some areas in Oregon have the right climate for this plant, they aren’t in Springfield. Pickerel rush, a blue-violet summer flour, works perfectly with the humid environment, making it difficult to grow during the dry months of Oregon’s summer. Brown’s honeysuckle is another common plant, decorating many chain-link fences.

In Oregon’s Springfield, the plant life has to accommodate for the wet winter weather and dry summers, which is why red alder, western dogwood, and common snowberry are all common. The common snowberry grows wild, but it also is included in many home landscapes and gardens. The western dogwood is primarily found in Oregon and other western states.

Springfield (IL) vs. Springfield (OR): Tourist Attractions

If there is one thing that the Illinois city is famous for, it is Abraham Lincoln. In Springfield, you can visit the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, following it with a trip to the historical site of the late President’s home. If you want a chance to take a tour, you have to arrive no less than an hour before closing because ticket sales stop at 4:00 pm.

While one of Oregon’s city’s most popular locations to visit is the Shoppes at Gateway, many travelers believe that the best spot is a mural of the television show The Simpsons. It is featured in many tours, and it is free to get a glimpse (and take a photo).

Springfield (IL) vs. Springfield (OR): Cost Of Housing

When choosing a home in either city, you are better off buying in the bigger city with the drastically lower cost of a home. In the Illinois-based Springfield, your cost of a home is under $200,000, making home purchases more realistic for a bigger range of incomes. With an average salary of $63,000 and up in this city, affording a home isn’t quite as far away.

Even with the smaller population of Oregon’s city, the cost to purchase a home is nearly double at over $400,000 for the median cost of a sold home. These numbers are extremely high for the city, considering that the average salary starts at $44,000 a year for jobs in Springfield, OR.

Springfield (IL) vs. Springfield (OR): Crime Rates

The crime rates in these two cities are another major difference they have. While property crime for both cities is almost twice the national average, the Illinois city is much more dangerous. It features twice the amount of violent crime of its Oregon-based counterpart, making it much safer. However, one of the reasons for the lower crime rate (which is slightly under the national average) could be the significant difference in population, despite the lower salary.

Springfield (IL) vs. Springfield (OR): Age

Since these two cities are in different parts of the country, their founding happened at different points in time for the United States. The founding of the Illinois-based city happened on April 10, 1821, making it over 200 years old. However, the United States incorporated the Oregon city in 1885, making it over 60 years younger than Springfield, IL. Still, with over a century of history for each city, taking a journey through their streets brings you by many long-standing monuments.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © SevenMaps/Shutterstock.com