Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Athens-Clarke County, GA
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories
Athens-Clarke County
Georgia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3
Median Household Income
$47,798 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
107⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
126,672
Springfield
Missouri
12
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.
Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pros
66% less violent crime than Springfield
More college-educated — 48.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,348 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 43°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Springfield
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $96k less ($146,400 vs $242,300)
Rent averages $167/mo less ($878 vs $1,045)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Athens-Clarke County
Cons
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
Median income trails Athens-Clarke County by $4,348/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Athens-Clarke County
Median Income
$4,348
$47,798 vs $43,450/yr
Athens-Clarke County
Violent Crime
66% lower
406.1 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Athens-Clarke County
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 92.0°F vs 88.2°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 93.3 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$96k less
$146,400 vs $242,300
Springfield
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Athens-Clarke County, GA | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $242,300 | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,045 | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,798 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 107⚠ High ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.0% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.8% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Clarke County | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 54.7°F ✓ Warmer | 43.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.0" | 46.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.6" ✓ Less | 13.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,672 | 168,873 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.7 | 33.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 40.6% | 42.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 17.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.5% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Athens-Clarke County's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories. Athens-Clarke County wins 11 and Springfield wins 12. 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 Athens-Clarke County to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($242,300 vs $146,400 median home), income ($47,798 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Athens-Clarke County, GA and Springfield, MO are about 601 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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