Head-to-Head · City Comparison
O'Fallon, MO
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 O'Fallon leads 15 of 23 categories
O'Fallon
Missouri
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3
Median Household Income
$104,863 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
16 ✓ Safer
Population
91,825
Springfield
Missouri
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
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.
O'Fallon, MO
Pros
Households earn $61,413 more per year on average
95% less violent crime than Springfield
Violent crime is well below the national average (59.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.1%)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Springfield
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $137k less ($146,400 vs $283,600)
Rent averages $433/mo less ($878 vs $1,311)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than O'Fallon
Cons
Median income trails O'Fallon by $61,413/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
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 3.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
O'Fallon
Median Income
$61,413
$104,863 vs $43,450/yr
O'Fallon
Violent Crime
95% lower
59.0 vs 1178.1 per 100k
O'Fallon
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.1% vs 4.8% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 96.3 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$137k less
$146,400 vs $283,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | O'Fallon, MO | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.3 | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $283,600 | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,311 | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,863 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.1% ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.1 min | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 18 ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 16 ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 23 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (118) ✓ Better | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.4% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 91.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FORT ZUMWALT SCHOOL DISTRICT | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 43.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.4" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.5" ✓ Less | 13.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,825 | 168,873 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.0 ✓ Older | 33.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 80.9% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.2% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
O'Fallon's cost of living index is 96.3 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, O'Fallon leads 15 of 23 categories. O'Fallon 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 O'Fallon to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($283,600 vs $146,400 median home), income ($104,863 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
O'Fallon, MO and Springfield, MO are about 178 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.