Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Eugene, OR
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Eugene leads 14 of 23 categories
Eugene
Oregon
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,481 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
176,755 ✓ 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.
Eugene, OR
Pros
73% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $18,031 more per year on average
More college-educated — 44.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $406,000
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Springfield
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 4.8%)
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $260k less ($146,400 vs $406,000)
Rent averages $391/mo less ($878 vs $1,269)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.8%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Eugene
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Eugene by $18,031/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
Eugene
Median Income
$18,031
$61,481 vs $43,450/yr
Eugene
Violent Crime
73% lower
317.9 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Springfield
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$260k less
$146,400 vs $406,000
Springfield
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.1% unemployment
Springfield
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Eugene, OR | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.8⚠ High | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $406,000⚠ High | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,269 | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,481 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.2% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 91.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Eugene SD 4J | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F ✓ Warmer | 43.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.1" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" ✓ Less | 13.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,755 ✓ Larger | 168,873 |
| Median Age | 35.2 ✓ Older | 33.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 17.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% ✓ More | 15.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Eugene's cost of living index is 103.8 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Eugene leads 14 of 23 categories. Eugene 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 Eugene to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($406,000 vs $146,400 median home), income ($61,481 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Eugene, OR and Springfield, MO are about 1,624 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.