Utica-Rome and Springfield receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Utica-Rome
Springfield
Opportunity
50 · Bottom 39%
vs44 · Bottom 27%
Growth
28 · Bottom 17%
vs27 · Bottom 15%
Climate
58 · Bottom 19%
vs67 · Top 50%
Physical resilience
83 · Top 11%
vs79 · Top 16%
Housing affordability
100 · Top 27%
vs100 · Top 27%
Access
95 · Top 15%
vs99 · Top 4%
Economic stability
40 · Bottom 34%
vs59 · Top 40%
Measured values
| Metric | Utica-Rome | Springfield | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 288,881 | 207,042 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $69,779 | $75,895 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $37,763 | $43,993 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 110/sq mi | 175/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $172,900 | $177,300 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $925 | $979 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 69.6% | 71.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.0% | 4.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.0% | -2.3% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 26.7% | 36.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 15.0% | 12.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 288 | 260 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.0 | 1.3 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 5.1% | 4.0% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 81°F | 87°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 13°F | 20°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.8" | 38.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 14 mi | 1 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.0 min | 21.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.7 | 41.1 | 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.
Physical risk tradeoff
Utica-Rome
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Springfield
Elevated or high exposure: drought, tornado.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Utica-Rome
65
Your Score
64
Area Score
Springfield
68
Your Score
64
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Utica-Rome, NY Metro Area · Springfield, IL Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology