Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Kent, WA
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Kent leads 13 of 23 categories
Kent
Washington
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
135,169
Springfield
Massachusetts
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
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.
Kent, WA
Pros
Households earn $39,289 more per year on average
45% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (7.6%)
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 35°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 85°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Higher rents — median is $1,742/mo
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Springfield
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $280k less ($198,500 vs $478,400)
Rent averages $695/mo less ($1,047 vs $1,742)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Kent
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Kent by $39,289/yr
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 7.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Kent
Median Income
$39,289
$86,966 vs $47,677/yr
Kent
Violent Crime
45% lower
489.7 vs 891.4 per 100k
Kent
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
7.6% vs 8.7% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$280k less
$198,500 vs $478,400
Springfield
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 84.9°F vs 78.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Kent, WA | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 113.0⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $478,400⚠ High | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,742⚠ High | $1,047 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $86,966 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.5 min⚠ High | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.1% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 149⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Kent School District | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.4°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.3°F | 84.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.3" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,169 | 155,305 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.8% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 24.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Kent's cost of living index is 113.0 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Kent leads 13 of 23 categories. Kent wins 13 and Springfield wins 10. 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 Kent to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($478,400 vs $198,500 median home), income ($86,966 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Kent, WA and Springfield, MA are about 2,422 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.