Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Shreveport, LA
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories
Shreveport
Louisiana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$45,967 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
323⚠ High
Population
186,183 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Missouri
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
168,873
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Shreveport, LA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 58°F vs 43°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.1)
Households earn $2,517 more per year on average
2% cheaper overall cost of living than Springfield
Cons
Violent crime (1228.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3990.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 4.8%)
Springfield, MO
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (4.8%)
4% less violent crime than Shreveport
Homes cost $23k less ($146,400 vs $168,900)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°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
Median income trails Shreveport by $2,517/yr
Cost of living runs 2% higher than Shreveport
Key Differences at a Glance
Shreveport
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 87.1 vs 89.3 (100 = US avg)
Shreveport
Median Income
$2,517
$45,967 vs $43,450/yr
Shreveport
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.3°F vs 88.2°F
Springfield
Violent Crime
4% lower
1178.1 vs 1228.5 per 100k
Springfield
Median Home Value
$23k less
$146,400 vs $168,900
Springfield
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
4.8% vs 9.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Shreveport, LA | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.1 ✓ Cheaper | 89.3 |
| Median Home Value | $168,900 | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $945 | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $45,967 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.2 min | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 4.7% | 7.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 270⚠ High | 266⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 323⚠ High | 310⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 190⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.2:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.6% | 30.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.5% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Caddo Parish | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.4°F ✓ Warmer | 43.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 94.3°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" | 46.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.9" ✓ Less | 13.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,183 ✓ Larger | 168,873 |
| Median Age | 37.1 ✓ Older | 33.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 23.8% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 17.1% ✓ More | 15.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Shreveport's cost of living index is 87.1 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Shreveport is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories. Shreveport wins 11 and Springfield wins 12. 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 Shreveport to Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,900 vs $146,400 median home), income ($45,967 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Shreveport, LA and Springfield, MO are about 328 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.