Columbia vs Springfield
Columbia, Missouri versus Springfield, Missouri: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Columbia and Springfield score about the same overall (47 vs 49 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Columbia | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $60k | $43k |
| Cost of Living | $43k | $43k |
| Home Value | $249k | $146k |
| Monthly Rent | $997 | $878 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $1k |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.98% | 0.84% |
| Income Tax | 4.80% | 4.80% |
| Sales Tax | 8.39% | 8.39% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 11.60% | 10.40% |
| Unemployment | 4.0% | 4.8% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 31°F | 33°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 78°F | 78°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.2 in | 46.5 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.4 in | 13.7 in |
| Sunny Days | 243 days | 252 days |
| Summer Humidity | 67°F | 67°F |
| Comfortable Days | 74 days | 73 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 75.5 | 44.2 |
| Air Quality | 45 AQI | 49 AQI |
| School Quality | 54.8 | 63.1 |
| Violent Crime | 2049/100k | 3362/100k |
| Property Crime | 2616/100k | 4926/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 126,172 | 168,873 |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 33.3 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.41 | 0.25 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.93 | 0.96 |
| Political Leaning | D+13 | R+21 |
| White (%) | 73.6% | 84.1% |
| Black (%) | 11.1% | 4.2% |
| Hispanic (%) | 3.9% | 4.6% |
| Asian (%) | 6.1% | 1.8% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.3% | 5.2% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 16 min | 18 min |
| Walkability | 9.0/20 | 9.5/20 |
| Airport Distance | 107 mi | 159 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 88.3% | 78.3% |
| Amenities Nearby | 25.36 | 24.87 |
| Park & Nature Access | Excellent | Excellent |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Columbia or Springfield more affordable?
- Springfield has the lower cost of living: its index is $43k, compared with Columbia's $43k and Springfield's $43k. Median rent is $997 in Columbia versus $878 in Springfield.
- Is Columbia or Springfield safer?
- Columbia has the lower violent crime rate. Columbia reports 2049/100k and Springfield reports 3362/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Columbia or Springfield?
- The median home value is $249k in Columbia and $146k in Springfield, so homes are more affordable in Springfield.