Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boise City, ID
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Boise City leads 14 of 22 categories
Boise City
Idaho
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4
Median Household Income
$76,402 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77 ✓ Safer
Population
234,192 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Missouri
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High
Population
168,873
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boise City, ID
Pros
Households earn $32,952 more per year on average
75% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.8%)
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $401,800
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Springfield
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $255k less ($146,400 vs $401,800)
Rent averages $345/mo less ($878 vs $1,223)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Boise City
Cons
Median income trails Boise City by $32,952/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
Boise City
Median Income
$32,952
$76,402 vs $43,450/yr
Boise City
Violent Crime
75% lower
293.8 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Boise City
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.8% vs 4.8% unemployment
Boise City
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 88.2°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 93.4 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$255k less
$146,400 vs $401,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boise City, ID | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.4 | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $401,800⚠ High | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,223 | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,402 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.4% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 68 ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 53 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.7:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 45.8% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.2% ✓ Higher | 91.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BOISE INDEPENDENT DISTRICT | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.8°F | 43.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.5" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.6" | 13.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 234,192 ✓ Larger | 168,873 |
| Median Age | 37.9 ✓ Older | 33.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.9% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.9% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 15.2% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boise City's cost of living index is 93.4 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Boise City leads 14 of 22 categories. Boise City wins 14 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 Boise City to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($401,800 vs $146,400 median home), income ($76,402 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boise City, ID and Springfield, MO are about 1,280 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.