Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Greensboro, NC
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Greensboro leads 16 of 23 categories
Greensboro
North Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$55,051 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
297,202 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
155,305
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Greensboro, NC
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (5.5%)
More college-educated — 39.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,374 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 50°F vs 35°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.7)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Springfield
Cons
Violent crime (923.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3383.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Springfield, MA
Pros
3% less violent crime than Greensboro
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Greensboro by $7,374/yr
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 5.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Greensboro
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 92.7 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Greensboro
Median Income
$7,374
$55,051 vs $47,677/yr
Greensboro
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
5.5% vs 8.7% unemployment
Greensboro
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 88.6°F vs 84.9°F
Springfield
Violent Crime
3% lower
891.4 vs 923.7 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Greensboro, NC | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.7 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $197,200 ✓ Lower | $198,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,048 | $1,047 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $55,051 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 210⚠ High | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 235⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 161⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 39.9% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.1% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Guilford County Schools | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.0°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.9" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.1" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 297,202 ✓ Larger | 155,305 |
| Median Age | 34.0 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.6% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.6% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Greensboro's cost of living index is 92.7 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Greensboro is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Greensboro leads 16 of 23 categories. Greensboro wins 16 and Springfield wins 7. 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 Greensboro to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($197,200 vs $198,500 median home), income ($55,051 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Greensboro, NC and Springfield, MA are about 570 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.