Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Rochester, NY
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Springfield leads 13 of 23 categories
Rochester
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$44,156 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Missouri
13
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.
Rochester, NY
Pros
51% less violent crime than Springfield
Homes cost $35k less ($111,400 vs $146,400)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 88°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.5% vs 4.8%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Springfield
Springfield, MO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (4.8%)
Rent averages $117/mo less ($878 vs $995)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Rochester
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Milder winters — January highs near 43°F vs 33°F
Cons
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
Rochester
Median Income
$706
$44,156 vs $43,450/yr
Rochester
Violent Crime
51% lower
582.3 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Rochester
Median Home Value
$35k less
$111,400 vs $146,400
Springfield
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
4.8% vs 8.5% unemployment
Springfield
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 88.2°F vs 82.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Rochester, NY | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $111,400 ✓ Lower | $146,400 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $995 | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $44,156 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.5%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.7% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 155⚠ High ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 153⚠ High ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 13.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 29.4% | 30.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 83.4% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 33.4°F | 43.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.5°F | 88.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.1" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 102.0" | 13.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 210,992 ✓ Larger | 168,873 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 33.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.3% | 42.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.8% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Rochester's cost of living index is 97.7 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 13 of 23 categories. Rochester wins 10 and Springfield wins 13. 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 Rochester to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($111,400 vs $146,400 median home), income ($44,156 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Rochester, NY and Springfield, MO are about 923 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.