Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Oklahoma City, OK
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Oklahoma City leads 19 of 23 categories
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,251 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
178⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
681,088 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Massachusetts
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Oklahoma City, OK
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (4.5%)
24% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $16,574 more per year on average
More college-educated — 33.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 49°F vs 35°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Cons
Violent crime (676.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Springfield, MA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Oklahoma City by $16,574/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 4.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Oklahoma City
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Oklahoma City
Median Income
$16,574
$64,251 vs $47,677/yr
Oklahoma City
Violent Crime
24% lower
676.0 vs 891.4 per 100k
Oklahoma City
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
4.5% vs 8.7% unemployment
Oklahoma City
Summer Heat
8.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.1°F vs 84.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Oklahoma City, OK | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $196,700 ✓ Lower | $198,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,012 ✓ Lower | $1,047 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,251 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.0 min | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.5% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 162⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 178⚠ High ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 138⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 33.2% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | OKLAHOMA CITY | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 49.3°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.1°F ✓ Warmer | 84.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 6.7" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 681,088 ✓ Larger | 155,305 |
| Median Age | 34.9 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 24.4% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Oklahoma City's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Oklahoma City is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Oklahoma City leads 19 of 23 categories. Oklahoma City wins 19 and Springfield wins 4. 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 Oklahoma City to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($196,700 vs $198,500 median home), income ($64,251 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Oklahoma City, OK and Springfield, MA are about 1,415 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.