Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denver, CO
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Denver leads 14 of 23 categories
Denver
Colorado
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$85,853 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
261⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
710,800 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Missouri
9
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.
Denver, CO
Pros
Households earn $42,403 more per year on average
16% less violent crime than Springfield
More college-educated — 54.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $540,400
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (993.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Springfield
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $394k less ($146,400 vs $540,400)
Rent averages $787/mo less ($878 vs $1,665)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Denver
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cons
Median income trails Denver by $42,403/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
Denver
Median Income
$42,403
$85,853 vs $43,450/yr
Denver
Violent Crime
16% lower
993.0 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Springfield
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$394k less
$146,400 vs $540,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denver, CO | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $540,400⚠ High | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $85,853 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.3 min | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.9% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 247⚠ High ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 261⚠ High ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.2% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | School District No. 1 in the county of Denver and State of C | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.5°F ✓ Warmer | 43.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.2°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.4" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 13.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 710,800 ✓ Larger | 168,873 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 33.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.7% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.0% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denver's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denver leads 14 of 23 categories. Denver wins 14 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 Denver to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($540,400 vs $146,400 median home), income ($85,853 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denver, CO and Springfield, MO are about 651 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.