Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Midland, TX
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Midland leads 15 of 23 categories
Midland
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
132,490
Springfield
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
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.
Midland, TX
Pros
Households earn $42,771 more per year on average
59% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.5 pts lower (3.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 35°F
More college-educated — 31.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.8)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,400/mo
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $82k less ($198,500 vs $280,700)
Rent averages $353/mo less ($1,047 vs $1,400)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Midland by $42,771/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 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Midland
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Median Income
$42,771
$90,448 vs $47,677/yr
Midland
Violent Crime
59% lower
364.9 vs 891.4 per 100k
Midland
Unemployment
5.5 pp lower
3.2% vs 8.7% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 84.9°F
Springfield
Median Home Value
$82k less
$198,500 vs $280,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Midland, TX | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $280,700 | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High | $1,047 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,448 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 21.0 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.6% | 7.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 88 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 84.9% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIDLAND ISD | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.3°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 84.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,490 | 155,305 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 31.4 | 33.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.9% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 24.4% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Midland's cost of living index is 94.8 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Midland is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Midland leads 15 of 23 categories. Midland wins 15 and Springfield wins 8. 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 Midland to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($280,700 vs $198,500 median home), income ($90,448 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Midland, TX and Springfield, MA are about 1,762 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.