Head-to-Head · City Comparison
New York, NY
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories
New York
New York
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,607 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
177⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
8,622,467 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Missouri
12
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.
New York, NY
Pros
Households earn $33,157 more per year on average
43% less violent crime than Springfield
More college-educated — 40.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $732,100
Higher rents — median is $1,714/mo
Violent crime (671.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Springfield
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $586k less ($146,400 vs $732,100)
Rent averages $836/mo less ($878 vs $1,714)
Commutes run 23 min shorter each way
23% cheaper overall cost of living than New York
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.8 pts lower (4.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cons
Median income trails New York by $33,157/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
New York
Median Income
$33,157
$76,607 vs $43,450/yr
New York
Violent Crime
43% lower
671.0 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Springfield
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$586k less
$146,400 vs $732,100
Springfield
Unemployment
2.8 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.6% unemployment
Springfield
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 84.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | New York, NY | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $732,100⚠ High | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,714⚠ High | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,607 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 41.1 min⚠ High | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 151⚠ High ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 177⚠ High ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 113⚠ 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 | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.2% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 83.3% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | NEW YORK CITY GEOGRAPHIC DISTRICT # 2 | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.7°F | 43.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.1" | 46.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 24.5" | 13.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 8,622,467 ✓ Larger | 168,873 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 33.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 32.9% | 42.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
New York's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 23% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories. New York wins 11 and Springfield wins 12. 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 New York to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($732,100 vs $146,400 median home), income ($76,607 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
New York, NY and Springfield, MO are about 1,065 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.