Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Compton, CA
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Springfield leads 14 of 23 categories
Compton
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Springfield
Missouri
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
168,873 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Compton, CA
Pros
Households earn $26,278 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 43°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $489,400
Higher rents — median is $1,464/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Springfield
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $343k less ($146,400 vs $489,400)
Rent averages $586/mo less ($878 vs $1,464)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Compton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (4.8%)
7% less violent crime than Compton
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Compton by $26,278/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
Key Differences at a Glance
Compton
Median Income
$26,278
$69,728 vs $43,450/yr
Springfield
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Violent Crime
7% lower
1178.1 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Springfield
Median Home Value
$343k less
$146,400 vs $489,400
Springfield
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.9% unemployment
Springfield
Summer Heat
11.0°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Compton, CA | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $489,400⚠ High | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,464⚠ High | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,728 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.8 min⚠ High | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 3.3% | 7.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 261⚠ High ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 335⚠ High | 310⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (77) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.0:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 10.4% | 30.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 63.8% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Compton Unified | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer | 43.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 77.2°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.8" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,822 | 168,873 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.4 ✓ Older | 33.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 27.9% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Compton's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 14 of 23 categories. Compton wins 9 and Springfield wins 14. 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 Compton to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($489,400 vs $146,400 median home), income ($69,728 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Compton, CA and Springfield, MO are about 1,416 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.