Aurora, IL vs Springfield, IL
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Springfield, IL and Aurora, IL spend within 3.1% of each other per resident — $15,771 versus $15,301 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Aurora, IL holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 87/100 (grade A) against 68/100 (grade B) for Springfield, IL — a 19-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
On debt, Aurora, IL carries the lighter load at $489 per resident versus $2,441 for Springfield, IL. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Aurora, IL leads with parks and recreation at $494 per resident, while Springfield, IL leads with highways and roads at $1,079.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 5% of total revenue in Aurora, IL and 17% in Springfield, IL.
Summary
Springfield spends 3.0% more per capita than Aurora ($470/person difference). Aurora, IL has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (A, 87/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $114 | $26 |
| Income Tax | $144 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $2,481 | $18,701 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,224 | $2,314 |
| Other | $1,114 | $1,274 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $216 | $0 |
| Highways & Roads | $0 | $1,079 |
| Education | $0 | $106 |
| Public Welfare | $922 | $1,275 |
| Health | $0 | $388 |
| Hospitals | $257 | $0 |
| Parks & Recreation | $494 | $325 |
| Housing | $4,836 | $0 |
| Utilities | $2,366 | $1,570 |
| Other | $6,210 | $11,028 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.