Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Los Angeles leads 12 of 23 categories
Los Angeles
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Missouri
11
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.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Households earn $32,794 more per year on average
38% less violent crime than Springfield
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 43°F
More college-educated — 36.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Higher rents — median is $1,791/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Springfield
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $676k less ($146,400 vs $822,600)
Rent averages $913/mo less ($878 vs $1,791)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cons
Median income trails Los Angeles by $32,794/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
Los Angeles
Median Income
$32,794
$76,244 vs $43,450/yr
Los Angeles
Violent Crime
38% lower
728.5 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Springfield
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$676k less
$146,400 vs $822,600
Springfield
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.7% unemployment
Springfield
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 78.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $822,600⚠ High | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F ✓ Warmer | 43.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 168,873 |
| Median Age | 36.5 ✓ Older | 33.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% | 42.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Los Angeles leads 12 of 23 categories. Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $146,400 median home), income ($76,244 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and Springfield, MO are about 1,424 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.