Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cambridge, MA
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Springfield leads 13 of 23 categories
Cambridge
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$121,539 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,962
Springfield
Missouri
13
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.
Cambridge, MA
Pros
Households earn $78,089 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Springfield
More college-educated — 79.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.3%)
Smaller class sizes — 9.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $997,600
Higher rents — median is $2,628/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Springfield
Property crime (2644.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $851k less ($146,400 vs $997,600)
Rent averages $1750/mo less ($878 vs $2,628)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Cambridge
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 43°F vs 37°F
Cons
Median income trails Cambridge by $78,089/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 3.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cambridge
Median Income
$78,089
$121,539 vs $43,450/yr
Cambridge
Violent Crime
63% lower
436.7 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Cambridge
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.8% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$851k less
$146,400 vs $997,600
Springfield
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 84.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cambridge, MA | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $997,600⚠ High | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,628⚠ High | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,539 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.3% ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.2 min | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 25.1% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A+ (135) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 9.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 91.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cambridge | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.0°F | 43.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.7°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.3" | 46.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.2" | 13.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 117,962 | 168,873 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 30.6 | 33.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 33.6% | 42.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 12.2% | 17.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cambridge's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 13 of 23 categories. Cambridge wins 10 and Springfield wins 13. 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 Cambridge to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($997,600 vs $146,400 median home), income ($121,539 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cambridge, MA and Springfield, MO are about 1,226 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.