Joplin vs Saginaw
Joplin, Missouri versus Saginaw, Missouri: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Saginaw edges out Joplin on overall objective livability (50 vs 45 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Joplin | Saginaw |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $51k | $52k |
| Cost of Living | $46k | $44k |
| Home Value | $147k | $166k |
| Monthly Rent | $873 | $968 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $12k | $99 |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.73% | 0.76% |
| Income Tax | 4.80% | 4.80% |
| Sales Tax | 8.39% | 8.39% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 9.66% | 9.97% |
| Unemployment | 4.9% | 2.3% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 35°F | 35°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 80°F | 80°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.6 in | 47.5 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 7.8 in | 8.1 in |
| Sunny Days | 256 days | 256 days |
| Summer Humidity | 68°F | 68°F |
| Comfortable Days | 71 days | 71 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 70.1 | 74.1 |
| Air Quality | 44 AQI | 44 AQI |
| School Quality | 43.9 | 43.9 |
| Violent Crime | 2520/100k | 1134/100k |
| Property Crime | 6130/100k | 1886/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 51,848 | 305 |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 43.5 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.27 | 0.24 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.98 | 0.97 |
| Political Leaning | R+47 | R+58 |
| White (%) | 82.4% | 85.6% |
| Black (%) | 2.7% | 0.7% |
| Hispanic (%) | 7.2% | 2.0% |
| Asian (%) | 1.8% | 0.7% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 5.9% | 11.1% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 17 min | — |
| Walkability | 10.4/20 | 7.6/20 |
| Airport Distance | 98 mi | 97 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 87.9% | 74.0% |
| Amenities Nearby | 18.32 | 1803.28 |
| Park & Nature Access | Good | 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 Joplin or Saginaw more affordable?
- Saginaw has the lower cost of living: its index is $44k, compared with Joplin's $46k and Saginaw's $44k. Median rent is $873 in Joplin versus $968 in Saginaw.
- Is Joplin or Saginaw safer?
- Saginaw has the lower violent crime rate. Joplin reports 2520/100k and Saginaw reports 1134/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Joplin or Saginaw?
- The median home value is $147k in Joplin and $166k in Saginaw, so homes are more affordable in Joplin.