Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Francisco, CA
VS
Springfield, MA
🏆 San Francisco leads 14 of 23 categories
San Francisco
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
117.1⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,689 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
851,036 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
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.
San Francisco, CA
Pros
Households earn $89,012 more per year on average
33% less violent crime than Springfield
More college-educated — 59.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 35°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 62°F vs 85°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,348,700
Higher rents — median is $2,316/mo
Violent crime (596.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Springfield
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $1150k less ($198,500 vs $1,348,700)
Rent averages $1269/mo less ($1,047 vs $2,316)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than San Francisco
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Francisco by $89,012/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 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
San Francisco
Median Income
$89,012
$136,689 vs $47,677/yr
San Francisco
Violent Crime
33% lower
596.5 vs 891.4 per 100k
San Francisco
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.7% unemployment
Springfield
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 117.1 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$1150k less
$198,500 vs $1,348,700
Springfield
Summer Heat
23.1°F warmer
July avg high 84.9°F vs 61.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Francisco, CA | Springfield, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 117.1⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,348,700⚠ High | $198,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,316⚠ High | $1,047 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $136,689 ✓ Higher | $47,677 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.8 min⚠ High | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 23.4% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 169⚠ High ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High ✓ Safer | 235⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 187⚠ High | 135⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.0:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.8% ✓ Higher | 20.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.8% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Francisco Unified | Springfield |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F ✓ Warmer | 34.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 61.8°F | 84.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.0" ✓ Drier | 50.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 51.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 851,036 ✓ Larger | 155,305 |
| Median Age | 39.3 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 38.6% | 47.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | 24.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.7% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Francisco's cost of living index is 117.1 vs Springfield's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Francisco leads 14 of 23 categories. San Francisco wins 14 and Springfield wins 9. 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 San Francisco to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,348,700 vs $198,500 median home), income ($136,689 vs $47,677), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Francisco, CA and Springfield, MA are about 2,654 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.