Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Springfield, MA
VS
Yuma, AZ
🏆 Yuma leads 18 of 23 categories
Springfield
Massachusetts
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4
Median Household Income
$47,677
Violent Crime Index
235⚠ High
Population
155,305 ✓ Larger
Yuma
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,312 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
96,314
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 107°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (891.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Yuma by $11,635/yr
Property crime (2835.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.7% vs 7.7%)
Yuma, AZ
Pros
52% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $11,635 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 35°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (7.7%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.4)
Cons
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Yuma
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 98.4 (100 = US avg)
Yuma
Median Income
$11,635
$59,312 vs $47,677/yr
Yuma
Violent Crime
52% lower
423.6 vs 891.4 per 100k
Yuma
Median Home Value
$12k less
$186,500 vs $198,500
Yuma
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
7.7% vs 8.7% unemployment
Yuma
Summer Heat
21.8°F warmer
July avg high 106.7°F vs 84.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Springfield, MA | Yuma, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $198,500 | $186,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,047 | $1,028 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $47,677 | $59,312 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.7%⚠ High | 7.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.0 min | 17.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 195⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 235⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 59 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C- (70) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.0% | 20.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 83.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Springfield | Yuma Elementary District (4499) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 34.8°F | 69.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.9°F | 106.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.3" | 3.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 155,305 ✓ Larger | 96,314 |
| Median Age | 33.4 ✓ Older | 32.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 64.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Springfield's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Yuma's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Yuma is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Yuma leads 18 of 23 categories. Springfield wins 5 and Yuma wins 18. 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 Yuma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,500 vs $186,500 median home), income ($47,677 vs $59,312), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Springfield, MA and Yuma, AZ are about 2,374 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.