Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Riverside, CA
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Riverside leads 12 of 23 categories
Riverside
California
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$83,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
155⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
316,076 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Missouri
11
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.
Riverside, CA
Pros
Households earn $39,998 more per year on average
50% less violent crime than Springfield
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 43°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $485,500
Higher rents — median is $1,711/mo
Violent crime (589.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Springfield
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $339k less ($146,400 vs $485,500)
Rent averages $833/mo less ($878 vs $1,711)
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Riverside
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.8%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cons
Median income trails Riverside by $39,998/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
Riverside
Median Income
$39,998
$83,448 vs $43,450/yr
Riverside
Violent Crime
50% lower
589.7 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Riverside
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 88.2°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$339k less
$146,400 vs $485,500
Springfield
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Riverside, CA | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $485,500⚠ High | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,711⚠ High | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,448 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.1% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 147⚠ High ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.3:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.4% | 30.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.6% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Riverside Unified | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer | 43.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 10.0" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 316,076 ✓ Larger | 168,873 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 33.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.5% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.6% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Riverside's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Riverside leads 12 of 23 categories. Riverside 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 Riverside to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($485,500 vs $146,400 median home), income ($83,448 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Riverside, CA and Springfield, MO are about 1,369 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.