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Your money goes further in Springfield, which offers residents an affordable cost of living and high wages.

Springfield’s average salary across all professions is an impressive $50,560 and average annual hourly rate is $24.31.

Not only that, but housing is very affordable in central Illinois, so you get more for your money! Median home values hover around $110,000, and median rent prices stand at $850.

The low cost of living coupled with higher median wages than the national average make Sangamon County an appealing location for families to put down roots.

The private and public education systems across Sangamon County are experiencing growth in the right direction. Our districts offer full and evolving curricula, with several local districts receiving state awards for excellence over the last few years.

And education doesn’t stop in a formal classroom setting. There are endless opportunities for experiential, hands-on learning through the region - starting with the living history found in Springfield and New Salem at the Lincoln historic sites. Visit one of our many museums or tour the state capitol and Governor’s Mansion to take in the state government.

Additionally, summer camps are not only entertaining but also provide ample learning.

Several local school sites host Camp Invention, where elementary-aged students bring STEM concepts to life through teamwork and problem-solving skills. Springfield Art Association’s summer art camps are so popular they fill up months in advance, and Lincoln Memorial Garden’s ecology camps run all summer long, giving participants a chance to immerse themselves in nature.

Programs are hosted year-round at the Illinois State Museum, but you can also visit nearly any day to experience life throughout the centuries in Illinois. The Mary Ann McLean play museum located on the basement level provides exploratory fun and learning for all ages.

Lincoln Land Community College also hosts year-round programming, from weekend STEAM classes to LLCC’s summertime College for Kids that allows students to take unique courses of interest. (And let’s not forget the parents: Lincoln Land also offers community education classes for adults on a variety of subjects from foreign languages to cooking skills!)

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The Springfield area is a multicultural community; residents move from all over the world to put down roots here. This cultural richness and diversity in our county expands our perspectives and bridges our connections.

With a variety of churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples, faith communities are also thriving here, offering residents from all backgrounds the opportunity to worship and practice religious traditions important to them.

Who wants to spend hours driving around?

At approximately 115,00 residents, Springfield’s size makes it a popular choice for families who love short commutes, with the average commute time being less than 20 minutes.

And there’s no doubt that Springfield and nearby towns are convenient to get to and from - the convergence of I-72 and I-55 makes travel to other regions a snap. With bustling metropolitan cities like St. Louis, Chicago and Indianapolis all within a three-hour drive, you can just fill up the gas tank for an exciting day or weekend excursion.

However, it’s likely you won’t want to leave very often, because it will take a lifetime to exhaust the options for activities, entertainment and attraction in Sangamon County.

The area’s friendly communities are ideal for families who want to raise their children in a comfortable, safe environment.

From state-of-the-art medical care to high-quality educational choices, Springfield and our nearby county communities are a top pick for families.

Springfield’s downtown district is a mix of modern and historical, packed with music festivals, shopping opportunities, art fairs and food truck events.

Thanks to the ongoing vision of our local leaders, downtown Springfield and surrounding areas are also seeing innovative retail, commercial, government and residential projects.

For those who want to be in the center of the action, it’s easy and convenient to live downtown. Downtown housing is walk-able to many shops, restaurants and historical attractions. And a jaunt through the downtown district enables you to take in rich architecture constructed hundreds of years ago.

Local eateries attract residents from across central Illinois, and breweries are flourishing downtown, such as Anvil & Forge and Buzz Bomb. In the mornings, grab a freshly roasted fair trade coffee at Custom Cup or William Vans to start your day.

Music festivals, concerts, art events and social activities are a constant in downtown Springfield as well, so take your pick on any given weekend!