Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Albuquerque, NM
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Albuquerque leads 13 of 22 categories
Albuquerque
New Mexico
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0
Median Household Income
$61,503 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
311⚠ High
Population
562,551 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Missouri
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
168,873
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Albuquerque, NM
Pros
Households earn $18,053 more per year on average
More college-educated — 37.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 43°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (1181.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.8%)
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Springfield
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $100k less ($146,400 vs $246,000)
Rent averages $136/mo less ($878 vs $1,014)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 95°F
Cons
Median income trails Albuquerque by $18,053/yr
Violent crime (1178.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4184.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Albuquerque
Median Income
$18,053
$61,503 vs $43,450/yr
Albuquerque
Summer Heat
6.7°F warmer
July avg high 94.9°F vs 88.2°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 93.0 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$100k less
$146,400 vs $246,000
Springfield
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Albuquerque, NM | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.0 | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $246,000 | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,014 | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,503 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.0% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 275⚠ High | 266⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 311⚠ High | 310⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 37.8% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALBUQUERQUE | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.9°F ✓ Warmer | 43.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.9°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.9" ✓ Less | 13.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 562,551 ✓ Larger | 168,873 |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 33.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.7% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 15.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Albuquerque's cost of living index is 93.0 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Albuquerque leads 13 of 22 categories. Albuquerque wins 13 and Springfield wins 9. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Albuquerque to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($246,000 vs $146,400 median home), income ($61,503 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Albuquerque, NM and Springfield, MO are about 758 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.