Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oakland, CA
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Oakland leads 12 of 23 categories
Oakland
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$94,389 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
507⚠ High
Population
437,825 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Massachusetts
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
155,305
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Oakland, CA
Pros
Households earn $46,712 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.8%)
More college-educated — 48.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 60°F vs 35°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 72°F vs 85°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $883,800
Higher rents — median is $1,849/mo
Violent crime (1925.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Springfield
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $685k less ($198,500 vs $883,800)
Rent averages $802/mo less ($1,047 vs $1,849)
54% less violent crime than Oakland
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Oakland
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Oakland by $46,712/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 5.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Oakland
Median Income
$46,712
$94,389 vs $47,677/yr
Oakland
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.8% vs 8.7% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Violent Crime
54% lower
891.4 vs 1925.3 per 100k
Springfield
Median Home Value
$685k less
$198,500 vs $883,800
Springfield
Summer Heat
13.3°F warmer
July avg high 84.9°F vs 71.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oakland, CA | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 118.2⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $883,800⚠ High | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,849⚠ High | $1,047 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,389 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.5 min⚠ High | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.3% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 195⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 507⚠ High | 235⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 344⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.8:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.4% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 85.6% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Oakland Unified | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.8°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 71.6°F | 84.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 22.5" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 437,825 ✓ Larger | 155,305 |
| Median Age | 37.5 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 47.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.1% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oakland's cost of living index is 118.2 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Oakland leads 12 of 23 categories. Oakland 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 Oakland to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($883,800 vs $198,500 median home), income ($94,389 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oakland, CA and Springfield, MA are about 2,612 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.