Chicago, IL vs Springfield, IL
Side-by-side fiscal comparison · U.S. Census Bureau data (2023)
Chicago, IL outspends Springfield, IL by a wide margin per resident — $34,551 versus $15,771, a 119% difference. A gap this size usually reflects a structurally different service mix or accounting scope rather than a single line item.
Springfield, IL edges Chicago, IL on the Fiscal Health Score by 7 points — 68/100 (grade B) to 61/100 (grade C). At a margin this narrow the grade is close enough that the factor-level detail matters more than the composite.
On debt, Chicago, IL carries the lighter load at $977 per resident versus $2,441 for Springfield, IL. Their budgets diverge on where the largest per-resident dollars go: Chicago, IL leads with fire protection at $10,754 per resident, while Springfield, IL leads with highways and roads at $1,079.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 100% of total revenue in Chicago, IL and 17% in Springfield, IL.
Summary
Chicago spends 119.1% more per capita than Springfield ($18,781/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)
| Property Tax | $26 | $0 |
| Sales Tax | $74 | $26 |
| Income Tax | $229 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $85,083 | $18,701 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,847 | $2,314 |
| Other | $3,463 | $1,274 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Fire Protection | $10,754 | $0 |
| Highways & Roads | $930 | $1,079 |
| Education | $0 | $106 |
| Public Welfare | $1,858 | $1,275 |
| Health | $426 | $388 |
| Hospitals | $1,444 | $0 |
| Parks & Recreation | $122 | $325 |
| Housing | $6,520 | $0 |
| Sewerage | $129 | $0 |
| Utilities | $2,983 | $1,570 |
| Other | $9,385 | $11,028 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.