Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Springfield, MA
VS
Visalia, CA
🏆 Visalia leads 14 of 23 categories
Springfield
Massachusetts
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305 ✓ Larger
Visalia
California
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,658 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
115⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
141,466
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $118k less ($198,500 vs $316,600)
Rent averages $242/mo less ($1,047 vs $1,289)
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Visalia
Cons
Median income trails Visalia by $27,981/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 5.6%)
Visalia, CA
Pros
Households earn $27,981 more per year on average
51% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (5.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 55°F vs 35°F
More college-educated — 23.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $316,600
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Springfield
Key Differences at a Glance
Springfield
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 101.3 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$118k less
$198,500 vs $316,600
Visalia
Median Income
$27,981
$75,658 vs $47,677/yr
Visalia
Violent Crime
51% lower
435.3 vs 891.4 per 100k
Visalia
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
5.6% vs 8.7% unemployment
Visalia
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 84.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Springfield, MA | Visalia, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 101.3⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $198,500 ✓ Lower | $316,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,047 ✓ Lower | $1,289 |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,677 | $75,658 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.7%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 21.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 6.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 195⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 235⚠ High | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 23.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 86.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Springfield | Visalia Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.8°F | 55.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.9°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 0.1" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,305 ✓ Larger | 141,466 |
| Median Age | 33.4 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 60.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | 28.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 13.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Springfield's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Visalia's 101.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Visalia leads 14 of 23 categories. Springfield wins 9 and Visalia wins 14. 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 Visalia or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,500 vs $316,600 median home), income ($47,677 vs $75,658), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Springfield, MA and Visalia, CA are about 2,504 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.