Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lakewood, CO
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Lakewood leads 12 of 22 categories
Lakewood
Colorado
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,786 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
207⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
156,149
Springfield
Missouri
10
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.
Lakewood, CO
Pros
Households earn $39,336 more per year on average
33% less violent crime than Springfield
More college-educated — 44.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,100
Higher rents — median is $1,665/mo
Violent crime (787.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Springfield
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $348k less ($146,400 vs $494,100)
Rent averages $787/mo less ($878 vs $1,665)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Lakewood
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Lakewood by $39,336/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
Lakewood
Median Income
$39,336
$82,786 vs $43,450/yr
Lakewood
Violent Crime
33% lower
787.2 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Springfield
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$348k less
$146,400 vs $494,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lakewood, CO | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,100⚠ High | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,665⚠ High | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $82,786 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 221⚠ High ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 243⚠ High | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.7:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.1% ✓ Higher | 91.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Jefferson County School District No. R-1 | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F ✓ Warmer | 43.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 85.9°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.8" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 58.0" | 13.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,149 | 168,873 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.1 ✓ Older | 33.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.0% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 16.8% | 17.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.4% ✓ More | 15.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lakewood's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lakewood leads 12 of 22 categories. Lakewood wins 12 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 Lakewood to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,100 vs $146,400 median home), income ($82,786 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lakewood, CO and Springfield, MO are about 662 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.