Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Springfield, MO
VS
West Valley City, UT
🏆 Springfield leads 13 of 23 categories
Springfield
Missouri
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High
Population
168,873 ✓ Larger
West Valley City
Utah
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.7
Median Household Income
$81,719 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
138,868
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $187k less ($146,400 vs $333,600)
Rent averages $482/mo less ($878 vs $1,360)
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than West Valley City
Cons
Median income trails West Valley City by $38,269/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 4.0%)
West Valley City, UT
Pros
Households earn $38,269 more per year on average
60% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.0%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $333,600
Higher rents — median is $1,360/mo
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Springfield
Key Differences at a Glance
Springfield
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 96.7 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$187k less
$146,400 vs $333,600
West Valley City
Median Income
$38,269
$81,719 vs $43,450/yr
West Valley City
Violent Crime
60% lower
469.5 vs 1178.1 per 100k
West Valley City
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.0% vs 4.8% unemployment
West Valley City
Summer Heat
5.8°F warmer
July avg high 94.0°F vs 88.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Springfield, MO | West Valley City, UT |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 96.7 |
| Median Home Value | $146,400 ✓ Lower | $333,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $878 ✓ Lower | $1,360⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,450 | $81,719 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter | 21.9 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 8.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 266⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 310⚠ High | 124⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 199⚠ High | 88 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C- (73) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 91.8% ✓ Higher | 83.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | SPRINGFIELD R-XII | Granite District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 43.4°F ✓ Warmer | 38.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 88.2°F | 94.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.5" | 17.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" ✓ Less | 51.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 168,873 ✓ Larger | 138,868 |
| Median Age | 33.3 ✓ Older | 30.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 71.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.4% | 31.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.9% ✓ More | 9.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Springfield's cost of living index is 89.3 vs West Valley City's 96.7 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 13 of 23 categories. Springfield wins 13 and West Valley City wins 10. 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 Valley City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($146,400 vs $333,600 median home), income ($43,450 vs $81,719), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Springfield, MO and West Valley City, UT are about 1,032 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.