Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Independence, MO
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Independence leads 16 of 23 categories
Independence
Missouri
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
122,218
Springfield
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Independence, MO
Pros
36% less violent crime than Springfield
Homes cost $48k less ($150,800 vs $198,500)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (6.2%)
Households earn $9,738 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Springfield
Cons
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Springfield, MA
Pros
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 Independence by $9,738/yr
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 6.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Independence
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Median Income
$9,738
$57,415 vs $47,677/yr
Independence
Violent Crime
36% lower
571.2 vs 891.4 per 100k
Independence
Median Home Value
$48k less
$150,800 vs $198,500
Independence
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Independence, MO | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $150,800 ✓ Lower | $198,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,047 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,415 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.2% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.5% | 20.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | INDEPENDENCE 30 | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.6°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F ✓ Warmer | 84.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.2" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,218 | 155,305 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.5% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.4% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Independence's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Independence is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Independence leads 16 of 23 categories. Independence 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 Independence to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,800 vs $198,500 median home), income ($57,415 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Independence, MO and Springfield, MA are about 1,160 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.