Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dallas, TX
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Dallas leads 13 of 22 categories
Dallas
Texas
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,985 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
1,300,642 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Dallas, TX
Pros
26% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $16,308 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 36.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 35°F
Cons
Violent crime (658.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3351.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Springfield
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $72k less ($198,500 vs $270,700)
Rent averages $258/mo less ($1,047 vs $1,305)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 97°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Dallas
Cons
Median income trails Dallas by $16,308/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 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Dallas
Median Income
$16,308
$63,985 vs $47,677/yr
Dallas
Violent Crime
26% lower
658.2 vs 891.4 per 100k
Dallas
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 8.7% unemployment
Dallas
Summer Heat
12.0°F warmer
July avg high 96.9°F vs 84.9°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$72k less
$198,500 vs $270,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dallas, TX | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $270,700 | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,305 | $1,047 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,985 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.4 min | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.5% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DALLAS ISD | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.4" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger | 155,305 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.9% | 47.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | 24.4% |
| Over 65 | 11.0% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dallas's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Dallas leads 13 of 22 categories. Dallas wins 13 and Springfield wins 9. 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 Dallas to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($270,700 vs $198,500 median home), income ($63,985 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dallas, TX and Springfield, MA are about 1,470 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.