Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Berkeley, CA
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories
Berkeley
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,716 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
168⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
121,385
Springfield
Massachusetts
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Berkeley, CA
Pros
Households earn $57,039 more per year on average
More college-educated — 73.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
28% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (5.5%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 35°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 85°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,280,300
Higher rents — median is $2,067/mo
Violent crime (638.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Springfield
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $1082k less ($198,500 vs $1,280,300)
Rent averages $1020/mo less ($1,047 vs $2,067)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Berkeley
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Berkeley by $57,039/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 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Berkeley
Median Income
$57,039
$104,716 vs $47,677/yr
Berkeley
Violent Crime
28% lower
638.8 vs 891.4 per 100k
Berkeley
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.7% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$1082k less
$198,500 vs $1,280,300
Springfield
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 84.9°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Berkeley, CA | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,280,300⚠ High | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,067⚠ High | $1,047 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,716 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 28.1% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 200⚠ High | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 73.8% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 96.1% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Berkeley Unified | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.9°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 84.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 26.1" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,385 | 155,305 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 43.3% | 47.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Berkeley's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories. Berkeley 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 Berkeley to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,280,300 vs $198,500 median home), income ($104,716 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Berkeley, CA and Springfield, MA are about 2,613 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.