Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Springfield, MA
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 West Palm Beach 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 Palm Beach
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Springfield, MA
Pros
Homes cost $126k less ($198,500 vs $324,800)
Rent averages $567/mo less ($1,047 vs $1,614)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails West Palm Beach by $16,367/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 6.2%)
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
35% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $16,367 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (6.2%)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 35°F
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $324,800
Higher rents — median is $1,614/mo
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Springfield
Key Differences at a Glance
Springfield
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$126k less
$198,500 vs $324,800
West Palm Beach
Median Income
$16,367
$64,044 vs $47,677/yr
West Palm Beach
Violent Crime
35% lower
575.8 vs 891.4 per 100k
West Palm Beach
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
6.2% vs 8.7% unemployment
West Palm Beach
Summer Heat
5.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 84.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Springfield, MA | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $198,500 ✓ Lower | $324,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,047 ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,677 | $64,044 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.7%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 195⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 235⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 86.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Springfield | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.8°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.9°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,305 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 33.4 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 49.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Springfield's cost of living index is 98.4 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, West Palm Beach leads 15 of 23 categories. Springfield wins 8 and West Palm Beach 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 Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,500 vs $324,800 median home), income ($47,677 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Springfield, MA and West Palm Beach, FL are about 1,145 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.