Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arvada, CO
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Arvada leads 15 of 22 categories
Arvada
Colorado
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,014 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
75 ✓ Safer
Population
123,066
Springfield
Missouri
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High
Population
168,873 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arvada, CO
Pros
Households earn $62,564 more per year on average
76% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 47.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $553,000
Higher rents — median is $1,706/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Springfield
Property crime (2478.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $407k less ($146,400 vs $553,000)
Rent averages $828/mo less ($878 vs $1,706)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Arvada
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Arvada by $62,564/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
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 3.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arvada
Median Income
$62,564
$106,014 vs $43,450/yr
Arvada
Violent Crime
76% lower
285.6 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Arvada
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.8% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$407k less
$146,400 vs $553,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arvada, CO | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $553,000⚠ High | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,706⚠ High | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $106,014 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 18.7% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 92 ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 118⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.6% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 91.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.2°F ✓ Warmer | 43.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.9" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 54.8" | 13.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 123,066 | 168,873 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.2 ✓ Older | 33.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 74.2% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 17.5% ✓ More | 15.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arvada's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Arvada leads 15 of 22 categories. Arvada wins 15 and Springfield wins 7. 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 Arvada to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($553,000 vs $146,400 median home), income ($106,014 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arvada, CO and Springfield, MO are about 666 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.