Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indio, CA
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Indio leads 12 of 23 categories
Indio
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$68,436 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
89,616
Springfield
Missouri
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High
Population
168,873 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Indio, CA
Pros
71% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $24,986 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 43°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $373,200
Higher rents — median is $1,344/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Springfield
Higher unemployment (7.3% vs 4.8%)
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $227k less ($146,400 vs $373,200)
Rent averages $466/mo less ($878 vs $1,344)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (4.8%)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Indio
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Indio by $24,986/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
Indio
Median Income
$24,986
$68,436 vs $43,450/yr
Indio
Violent Crime
71% lower
336.2 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Indio
Summer Heat
17.6°F warmer
July avg high 105.8°F vs 88.2°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$227k less
$146,400 vs $373,200
Springfield
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indio, CA | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $373,200⚠ High | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,344⚠ High | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $68,436 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.3%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.7% | 7.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 30.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.4% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Desert Sands Unified | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.3°F ✓ Warmer | 43.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.8°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 2.9" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,616 | 168,873 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 ✓ Older | 33.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.3% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 19.2% ✓ More | 15.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indio's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Indio leads 12 of 23 categories. Indio 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 Indio to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($373,200 vs $146,400 median home), income ($68,436 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indio, CA and Springfield, MO are about 1,310 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.