Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Springfield, MA
VS
West Covina, CA
🏆 West Covina 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
West Covina
California
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$96,219 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
63 ✓ Safer
Population
108,173
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $466k less ($198,500 vs $664,500)
Rent averages $1007/mo less ($1,047 vs $2,054)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
17% cheaper overall cost of living than West Covina
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails West Covina by $48,542/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 6.7%)
West Covina, CA
Pros
Households earn $48,542 more per year on average
73% less violent crime than Springfield
Violent crime is well below the national average (239.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (6.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 35°F
More college-educated — 29.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $664,500
Higher rents — median is $2,054/mo
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Springfield
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Springfield
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$466k less
$198,500 vs $664,500
West Covina
Median Income
$48,542
$96,219 vs $47,677/yr
West Covina
Violent Crime
73% lower
239.3 vs 891.4 per 100k
West Covina
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
6.7% vs 8.7% unemployment
West Covina
Summer Heat
5.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.3°F vs 84.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Springfield, MA | West Covina, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $198,500 ✓ Lower | $664,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,047 ✓ Lower | $2,054⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,677 | $96,219 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.7%⚠ High | 6.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 9.2% ✓ 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 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 100 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.3:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 29.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 86.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Springfield | West Covina Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.8°F | 67.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.9°F | 90.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 16.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,305 ✓ Larger | 108,173 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 39.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 16.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Springfield's cost of living index is 98.4 vs West Covina's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Covina leads 15 of 23 categories. Springfield wins 8 and West Covina 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 West Covina or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,500 vs $664,500 median home), income ($47,677 vs $96,219), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Springfield, MA and West Covina, CA are about 2,499 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.