Performance
Score Breakdown
Phoenix
Springfield
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Springfield is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
45% higher compared to Phoenix.
Housing costs are a major driver: Phoenix's average rent is
57% higher than Springfield's.
| Metric | Phoenix | Springfield | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,492 | $950 | +57% |
| Groceries | $426 | $400 | +7% |
| Utilities | $391 | $180 | +117% |
| Transport | $64 | $120 | -47% |
| Healthcare | $380 | $250 | +52% |
| Monthly Total | $2,753 | $1,900 | +45% |
| Cost Index | 105 | 85 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Phoenix offers similar average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Springfield delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Phoenix is estimated at
$52,974 vs $33,240 in Springfield.
| Metric | Phoenix | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $49,356 | $49,276 |
| Salary Needed | $52,974 | $33,240 |
| Purchasing Power | 47,006 idx | 57,972 idx |
| Household Income | $81,332 | $47,143 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Phoenix | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 14.00% | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Springfield has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
2,500 minutes (42 hours) per year compared to Phoenix.
Phoenix scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Phoenix leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Phoenix | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 26 min | 21 min |
| Transit Score | 42.0/10 | 13.0/10 |
| Walkability | 41.0/10 | 6.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 31.00 | 45.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Phoenix is the larger city
— approximately 28.8x the population of Springfield.
From a growth perspective, Phoenix is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
| Metric | Phoenix | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,677,947 | 58,190 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.75% | % |
| Median Age | 34.9 | 37.9 |
| Unemployment | 4.00% | 4.00% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $0.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Phoenix
Advantages
Phoenix's job market is projected to grow by 0.7% in 2026, outpacing many other regions.
The city ranks as the No. 7 most supportive city in the U.S. for small businesses as of April 2026.
Healthcare costs in Phoenix are 4% lower than the national average.
The average one-way commute time in Phoenix is 26 minutes, slightly less than the U.S. average.
Phoenix experiences abundant sunshine, averaging over 300 days per year.
Drawbacks
The cost of living in Phoenix is 5% higher than the national average, primarily due to housing expenses.
Phoenix's overall crime rate, while below the national average, still faces challenges with property crimes like auto theft.
The city has a low walkability score of 41, indicating high car dependency for most errands.
Summers in Phoenix are extremely hot, with average July highs around 105°F.
Traffic congestion in Phoenix resulted in commuters losing 76 hours in 2024, higher than the national average.
Springfield
Advantages
Cost of living is approximately 15% below the national average, with housing costs running about 46% below the national norm. [25]
Median rent for a two-bedroom apartment is approximately $920 per month, significantly lower than the national average of $1,430. [25]
The median home value in Springfield is $102,100, which is 64% below the national average. [41]
Springfield has a lower rent-to-income ratio compared to other small metros in Ohio, indicating better rental affordability. [14]
The city is actively working on downtown revitalization, with new residential housing and entertainment venues. [30]
Drawbacks
Springfield has a high crime rate, significantly above both state and national averages, with a concerning trend in violent and property crimes. [9, 26]
The violent crime rate in Springfield is 1371.1 per 100,000 residents, which is substantially higher than the national average. [9]
Springfield has one of the highest crime rates in America, with a chance of becoming a victim of crime being one in 17. [26]
The city's walkability score is very low, indicating a high dependency on cars for transportation. [22, 38]
The median household income of $47,143 is below the national average, and the poverty rate is 23.1%, higher than the national average. [3, 39]
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Phoenix
#67Arizona, USA
70.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,492
Avg Salary
$49,356
Cost Index
105
Commute
26 min
Transit Score
42.0/10
Walkability
41.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.75%
Unemployment
4.00%
Livability
68
Business
75
Springfield
#112Ohio, USA
65.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$49,276
Cost Index
85
Commute
21 min
Transit Score
13.0/10
Walkability
6.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.00%
Livability
70
Business
60
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