Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Jacksonville, FL
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Jacksonville leads 13 of 22 categories
Jacksonville
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.2
Median Household Income
$64,138 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
164⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
950,203 ✓ 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.
Jacksonville, FL
Pros
Households earn $20,688 more per year on average
47% less violent crime than Springfield
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 43°F
Cons
Violent crime (623.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2494.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Springfield
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $97k less ($146,400 vs $243,000)
Rent averages $403/mo less ($878 vs $1,281)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Jacksonville
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Jacksonville by $20,688/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
Jacksonville
Median Income
$20,688
$64,138 vs $43,450/yr
Jacksonville
Violent Crime
47% lower
623.8 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Jacksonville
Summer Heat
3.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.8°F vs 88.2°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 99.2 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$97k less
$146,400 vs $243,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Jacksonville, FL | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 99.2 | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $243,000 | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,281 | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,138 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.4 min | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 164⚠ High ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 119⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.1:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.0% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.5% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DUVAL | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.5°F ✓ Warmer | 43.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.8°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 53.1" | 46.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 950,203 ✓ Larger | 168,873 |
| Median Age | 36.3 ✓ Older | 33.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.0% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Jacksonville's cost of living index is 99.2 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Jacksonville leads 13 of 22 categories. Jacksonville wins 13 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 Jacksonville to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($243,000 vs $146,400 median home), income ($64,138 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Jacksonville, FL and Springfield, MO are about 818 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.