Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lubbock, TX
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Lubbock leads 16 of 23 categories
Lubbock
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9
Median Household Income
$58,734 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
216⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
258,190 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Missouri
7
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.
Lubbock, TX
Pros
30% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $15,284 more per year on average
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 43°F
More college-educated — 34.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (821.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2628.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Springfield, MO
Pros
Rent averages $215/mo less ($878 vs $1,093)
Homes cost $35k less ($146,400 vs $181,600)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cons
Median income trails Lubbock by $15,284/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
Lubbock
Median Income
$15,284
$58,734 vs $43,450/yr
Lubbock
Violent Crime
30% lower
821.0 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Lubbock
Summer Heat
4.5°F warmer
July avg high 92.7°F vs 88.2°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 90.9 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$35k less
$146,400 vs $181,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lubbock, TX | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.9 | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $181,600 | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,093 | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,734 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.1 min ✓ Shorter | 18.1 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.9% | 7.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 180⚠ High ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 216⚠ High ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.2% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | LUBBOCK ISD | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.0°F ✓ Warmer | 43.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.5" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.0" ✓ Less | 13.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 258,190 ✓ Larger | 168,873 |
| Median Age | 30.0 | 33.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lubbock's cost of living index is 90.9 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lubbock leads 16 of 23 categories. Lubbock wins 16 and Springfield wins 7. 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 Lubbock to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($181,600 vs $146,400 median home), income ($58,734 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lubbock, TX and Springfield, MO are about 545 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.