Head-to-Head · City Comparison
San Tan Valley, AZ
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 14 of 23 categories
San Tan Valley
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Springfield
Missouri
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High
Population
168,873 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
Households earn $45,016 more per year on average
80% less violent crime than Springfield
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 66°F vs 43°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Springfield
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $158k less ($146,400 vs $304,000)
Rent averages $851/mo less ($878 vs $1,729)
Commutes run 18 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than San Tan Valley
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 104°F
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $45,016/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
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$45,016
$88,466 vs $43,450/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
80% lower
235.7 vs 1178.1 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
16.0°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 88.2°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 100.0 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$158k less
$146,400 vs $304,000
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | San Tan Valley, AZ | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.0 | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $304,000 | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,729⚠ High | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,466 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.2 min⚠ High | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.5% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 56 ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 62 ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 46 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.0% | 30.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 92.3% ✓ Higher | 91.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer | 43.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.6" ✓ Drier | 46.5" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,207 | 168,873 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 ✓ Older | 33.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 80.4% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 11.7% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
San Tan Valley's cost of living index is 100.0 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 14 of 23 categories. San Tan Valley 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 Tan Valley to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($304,000 vs $146,400 median home), income ($88,466 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
San Tan Valley, AZ and Springfield, MO are about 1,066 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.