Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Austin, TX
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Austin leads 15 of 23 categories
Austin
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,556 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
123⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
958,202 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Austin, TX
Pros
Households earn $38,879 more per year on average
48% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.3 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 56.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 63°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $461,500
Higher rents — median is $1,549/mo
Violent crime (466.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3241.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $263k less ($198,500 vs $461,500)
Rent averages $502/mo less ($1,047 vs $1,549)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 97°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Austin by $38,879/yr
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Austin
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 97.6 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Austin
Median Income
$38,879
$86,556 vs $47,677/yr
Austin
Violent Crime
48% lower
466.9 vs 891.4 per 100k
Austin
Unemployment
4.3 pp lower
4.4% vs 8.7% unemployment
Austin
Summer Heat
11.7°F warmer
July avg high 96.6°F vs 84.9°F
Springfield
Median Home Value
$263k less
$198,500 vs $461,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Austin, TX | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.6 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $461,500⚠ High | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,549⚠ High | $1,047 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,556 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.1 min | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 154⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (133) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.0:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.5% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.1% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | AUSTIN ISD | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.5°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.2" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 958,202 ✓ Larger | 155,305 |
| Median Age | 34.2 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 47.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.7% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 9.8% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Austin's cost of living index is 97.6 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Austin is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Austin leads 15 of 23 categories. Austin wins 15 and Springfield wins 8. 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 Austin to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($461,500 vs $198,500 median home), income ($86,556 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Austin, TX and Springfield, MA are about 1,616 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.