Springfield receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Springfield
Niles
Opportunity
42 · Bottom 23%
vs28 · Bottom 6%
Growth
33 · Bottom 24%
vs23 · Bottom 11%
Climate
68 · Top 46%
vs61 · Bottom 30%
Physical resilience
84 · Top 9%
vs94 · Top 2%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs95 · Top 47%
Access
91 · Top 22%
vs91 · Top 22%
Economic stability
48 · Bottom 45%
vs37 · Bottom 32%
Measured values
| Metric | Springfield | Niles | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 135,158 | 153,288 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $63,132 | $65,425 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $33,791 | $38,351 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 341/sq mi | 270/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $169,900 | $224,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $872 | $942 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 69.4% | 72.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 4.9% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.5% | -7.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.2% | 30.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 15.2% | 15.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 244 | 317 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.8 | 2.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 5.2% | -24.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 86°F | 83°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 22°F | 17°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 41.3" | 39.2" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 23 mi | 23 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 24.7 min | 22.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.2 | 42.7 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Your best match
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Springfield
66
Your Score
64
Area Score
Niles
61
Your Score
59
Area Score
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Full profiles: Springfield, OH Metro Area · Niles, MI Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology