Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Springfield, MA
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Tracy leads 15 of 23 categories
Springfield
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $419k less ($198,500 vs $617,300)
Rent averages $1115/mo less ($1,047 vs $2,162)
Commutes run 23 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Tracy
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 93°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $64,040/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%)
Tracy, CA
Pros
Households earn $64,040 more per year on average
66% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (5.4%)
Milder winters — January highs near 57°F vs 35°F
More college-educated — 24.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Springfield
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Springfield
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$419k less
$198,500 vs $617,300
Tracy
Median Income
$64,040
$111,717 vs $47,677/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
66% lower
301.4 vs 891.4 per 100k
Tracy
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
5.4% vs 8.7% unemployment
Tracy
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.2°F vs 84.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Springfield, MA | Tracy, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $198,500 ✓ Lower | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,047 ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,677 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.7%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 195⚠ High | 78 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 235⚠ High | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 76 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 24.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 83.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Springfield | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.8°F | 57.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.9°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,305 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 34.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 64.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Springfield's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Tracy leads 15 of 23 categories. Springfield wins 8 and Tracy wins 15. 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 Springfield to Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,500 vs $617,300 median home), income ($47,677 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Springfield, MA and Tracy, CA are about 2,574 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.