Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Raleigh, NC
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 Raleigh leads 17 of 23 categories
Raleigh
North Carolina
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Massachusetts
6
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.
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Households earn $30,954 more per year on average
45% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (4.5%)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 52°F vs 35°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,371/mo
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $149k less ($198,500 vs $347,000)
Rent averages $324/mo less ($1,047 vs $1,371)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Raleigh by $30,954/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
Raleigh
Median Income
$30,954
$78,631 vs $47,677/yr
Raleigh
Violent Crime
45% lower
488.8 vs 891.4 per 100k
Raleigh
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
4.5% vs 8.7% unemployment
Raleigh
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 90.6°F vs 84.9°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 98.0 on the COL index
Springfield
Median Home Value
$149k less
$198,500 vs $347,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Raleigh, NC | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper | 98.4 |
| Median Home Value | $347,000⚠ High | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,371⚠ High | $1,047 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,631 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.7 min | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 20.1% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 131⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 134⚠ High ✓ Safer | 135⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (117) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.3:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 52.7% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 92.4% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Wake County Schools | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 51.7°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer | 84.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.1" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 4.5" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 465,517 ✓ Larger | 155,305 |
| Median Age | 34.6 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.1% ✓ Higher | 47.8% |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 13.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Raleigh's cost of living index is 98.0 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Raleigh is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 17 of 23 categories. Raleigh wins 17 and Springfield wins 6. 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 Raleigh to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($347,000 vs $198,500 median home), income ($78,631 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Raleigh, NC and Springfield, MA are about 544 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.