Head-to-Head · City Comparison
El Paso, TX
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 El Paso leads 12 of 23 categories
El Paso
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.2
Median Household Income
$55,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
73 ✓ Safer
Population
677,181 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Missouri
11
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.
El Paso, TX
Pros
76% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $12,260 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 43°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.2)
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 4.8%)
Springfield, MO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Rent averages $98/mo less ($878 vs $976)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 96°F
Cons
Violent crime (1178.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails El Paso by $12,260/yr
Property crime (4184.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
El Paso
Median Income
$12,260
$55,710 vs $43,450/yr
El Paso
Violent Crime
76% lower
278.4 vs 1178.1 per 100k
El Paso
Summer Heat
7.6°F warmer
July avg high 95.8°F vs 88.2°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 90.2 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$13k less
$146,400 vs $159,300
Springfield
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.8% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | El Paso, TX | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.2 | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $159,300 | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $976 | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,710 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.7% | 7.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 72 ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 73 ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.5:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.1% | 30.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.5% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | EL PASO ISD | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.6°F ✓ Warmer | 43.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.8°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.3" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.8" ✓ Less | 13.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 677,181 ✓ Larger | 168,873 |
| Median Age | 33.7 ✓ Older | 33.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
El Paso's cost of living index is 90.2 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, El Paso leads 12 of 23 categories. El Paso wins 12 and Springfield wins 11. 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 El Paso to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($159,300 vs $146,400 median home), income ($55,710 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
El Paso, TX and Springfield, MO are about 833 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.