Springfield, IL vs Champaign, 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: Springfield, IL leads with highways and roads at $1,079 per resident, while Champaign, IL leads with police at $1,426.
On the revenue side both lean hardest on intergovernmental transfers — 17% of total revenue in Springfield, IL and 276% in Champaign, IL.
Summary
Springfield spends 3.9% 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 | $26 | $0 |
| Intergovernmental | $18,701 | $4,573 |
| Charges & Fees | $2,314 | $0 |
| Other | $1,274 | $1,152 |
Spending Breakdown (Per Capita)
| Police | $0 | $1,426 |
| Fire Protection | $0 | $488 |
| Highways & Roads | $1,079 | $231 |
| Education | $106 | $0 |
| Public Welfare | $1,275 | $465 |
| Health | $388 | $0 |
| Parks & Recreation | $325 | $0 |
| Housing | $0 | $895 |
| Utilities | $1,570 | $5 |
| Other | $11,028 | $11,663 |
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Source: Census Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances, 2026.