Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Springfield, MO
VS
St. George, UT
🏆 St. George leads 17 of 23 categories
Springfield
Missouri
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High
Population
168,873 ✓ Larger
St. George
Utah
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1
Median Household Income
$69,333 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
55 ✓ Safer
Population
96,174
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $269k less ($146,400 vs $415,200)
Rent averages $457/mo less ($878 vs $1,335)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 102°F
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than St. George
Smaller class sizes — 13.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails St. George by $25,883/yr
Violent crime (1178.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4184.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.8% vs 3.3%)
St. George, UT
Pros
82% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $25,883 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (210.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (3.3%)
Milder winters — January highs near 54°F vs 43°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,200
Higher rents — median is $1,335/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 102°F
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Springfield
Key Differences at a Glance
Springfield
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 96.1 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$269k less
$146,400 vs $415,200
St. George
Median Income
$25,883
$69,333 vs $43,450/yr
St. George
Violent Crime
82% lower
210.0 vs 1178.1 per 100k
St. George
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
3.3% vs 4.8% unemployment
St. George
Summer Heat
13.7°F warmer
July avg high 101.9°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Springfield, MO | St. George, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 96.1 |
| Median Home Value | $146,400 ✓ Lower | $415,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $878 ✓ Lower | $1,335⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,450 | $69,333 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 3.3% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.1 min | 16.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 266⚠ High | 52 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 310⚠ High | 55 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 199⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (93) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 32.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.8% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SPRINGFIELD R-XII | Washington District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.4°F | 54.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 101.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.5" | 9.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 1.2" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,873 ✓ Larger | 96,174 |
| Median Age | 33.3 | 37.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 67.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.4% | 25.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Springfield's cost of living index is 89.3 vs St. George's 96.1 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, St. George leads 17 of 23 categories. Springfield wins 6 and St. George wins 17. 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 St. George or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($146,400 vs $415,200 median home), income ($43,450 vs $69,333), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Springfield, MO and St. George, UT are about 1,115 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.