Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 McAllen leads 14 of 23 categories
McAllen
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722
Springfield
Missouri
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3
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.
McAllen, TX
Pros
87% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $12,876 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 71°F vs 43°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.6)
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Springfield
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Springfield, MO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Rent averages $77/mo less ($878 vs $955)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 98°F
Cons
Violent crime (1178.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails McAllen by $12,876/yr
Property crime (4184.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 4% higher than McAllen
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 89.3 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Median Income
$12,876
$56,326 vs $43,450/yr
McAllen
Violent Crime
87% lower
150.0 vs 1178.1 per 100k
McAllen
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 88.2°F
Springfield
Median Home Value
$12k less
$146,400 vs $158,700
Springfield
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.8% vs 5.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 89.3 |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F ✓ Warmer | 43.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" ✓ Less | 13.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 | 168,873 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 33.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 14 of 23 categories. McAllen wins 14 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 McAllen to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $146,400 median home), income ($56,326 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and Springfield, MO are about 812 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.