Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Salt Lake City, UT
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Salt Lake City
Utah
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7
Median Household Income
$72,357 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
227⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
201,269 ✓ 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.
Salt Lake City, UT
Pros
Households earn $28,907 more per year on average
27% less violent crime than Springfield
More college-educated — 50.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.6%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $458,600
Violent crime (864.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5200.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Springfield
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $312k less ($146,400 vs $458,600)
Rent averages $376/mo less ($878 vs $1,254)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Salt Lake City
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Salt Lake City by $28,907/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 3.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Salt Lake City
Median Income
$28,907
$72,357 vs $43,450/yr
Salt Lake City
Violent Crime
27% lower
864.2 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Salt Lake City
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.6% vs 4.8% unemployment
Salt Lake City
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.4°F vs 88.2°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 97.7 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$312k less
$146,400 vs $458,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Salt Lake City, UT | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.7 | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $458,600⚠ High | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,254 | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $72,357 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.6% ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.7 min | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.9% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 236⚠ High ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 227⚠ High ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 248⚠ High | 199⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) | B+ (105) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.2:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.2% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 91.2% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Salt Lake District | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.7°F | 43.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.4°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.7" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 13.7" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,269 ✓ Larger | 168,873 |
| Median Age | 32.5 | 33.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.0% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.0% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Salt Lake City'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 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Salt Lake City wins 11 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 Salt Lake City to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($458,600 vs $146,400 median home), income ($72,357 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Salt Lake City, UT and Springfield, MO are about 1,029 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.