Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Springfield, MA
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 14 of 21 categories
Springfield
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$47,677 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305 ✓ Larger
Waco
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
140,545
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Springfield, MA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
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 4.5%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Waco
Waco, TX
Pros
52% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (4.5%)
Homes cost $24k less ($174,100 vs $198,500)
Milder winters — January highs near 59°F vs 35°F
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Waco
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Violent Crime
52% lower
425.9 vs 891.4 per 100k
Waco
Median Home Value
$24k less
$174,100 vs $198,500
Waco
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
4.5% vs 8.7% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
9.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 84.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Springfield, MA | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $198,500 | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,047 | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,677 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.7%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 195⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 235⚠ High | 112⚠ 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) | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 14.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 27.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 85.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Springfield | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.8°F | 58.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.9°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,305 ✓ Larger | 140,545 |
| Median Age | 33.4 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 24.4% ✓ More | 23.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Springfield's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Waco leads 14 of 21 categories. Springfield wins 7 and Waco 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 Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,500 vs $174,100 median home), income ($47,677 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Springfield, MA and Waco, TX are about 1,538 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.