Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carrollton, TX
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Carrollton leads 16 of 23 categories
Carrollton
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,380 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
132,284
Springfield
Missouri
7
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.
Carrollton, TX
Pros
Households earn $51,930 more per year on average
88% less violent crime than Springfield
Violent crime is well below the national average (137.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 42.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 56°F vs 43°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $327,300
Higher rents — median is $1,555/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Springfield
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $181k less ($146,400 vs $327,300)
Rent averages $677/mo less ($878 vs $1,555)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Carrollton
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Carrollton by $51,930/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 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carrollton
Median Income
$51,930
$95,380 vs $43,450/yr
Carrollton
Violent Crime
88% lower
137.1 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Carrollton
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.8% unemployment
Carrollton
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 88.2°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$181k less
$146,400 vs $327,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carrollton, TX | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $327,300⚠ High | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,555⚠ High | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,380 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 17.8% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 47 ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 63 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (119) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.1% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.4% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | CARROLLTON-FARMERS BRANCH ISD | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.9°F ✓ Warmer | 43.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 39.8" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 13.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,284 | 168,873 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.6 ✓ Older | 33.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.3% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carrollton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Carrollton leads 16 of 23 categories. Carrollton wins 16 and Springfield wins 7. 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 Carrollton to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,300 vs $146,400 median home), income ($95,380 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carrollton, TX and Springfield, MO are about 355 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.