Champaign, IL vs Springfield, IL
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Springfield, IL and Champaign, IL spend within 3.9% of each other per resident — $15,771 versus $15,173 — so on the headline spending-per-capita measure the two cities are effectively neck and neck.
Springfield, IL holds the stronger Fiscal Health Score, 68/100 (grade B) against 55/100 (grade C) for Champaign, IL — a 13-point spread that puts the two in different grade territory.
Champaign, IL reports no outstanding debt per resident in its Census filing, while Springfield, IL carries $2,441 per resident. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Champaign, IL leads with police at $1,426 per resident, while Springfield, IL leads with highways and roads at $1,079.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 276% of total revenue in Champaign, IL and 17% in Springfield, IL.
Summary
Springfield spends 3.8% more per capita than Champaign ($598/person difference). Springfield, IL has the stronger Fiscal Health Score (B, 68/100).
Fiscal Health Score
Key Metrics
Per Capita Spending by Department
Revenue Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Sales Tax | $0 | $26 |
| Intergovernmental | $4,573 | $18,701 |
| Charges & Fees | $0 | $2,314 |
| Other | $1,152 | $1,274 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $1,426 | $0 |
| Fire Protection | $488 | $0 |
| Highways & Roads | $231 | $1,079 |
| Education | $0 | $106 |
| Public Welfare | $465 | $1,275 |
| Health | $0 | $388 |
| Parks & Recreation | $0 | $325 |
| Housing | $895 | $0 |
| Utilities | $5 | $1,570 |
| Other | $11,663 | $11,028 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.