Performance
Score Breakdown
Springfield
Moscow
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Moscow is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
42% higher compared to Springfield.
Housing costs are a major driver: Springfield's average rent is
29% lower than Moscow's.
| Metric | Springfield | Moscow | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $950 | $1,338 | -29% |
| Groceries | $400 | $0 | 0% |
| Utilities | $180 | $0 | 0% |
| Transport | $120 | $0 | 0% |
| Healthcare | $250 | $0 | 0% |
| Monthly Total | $1,900 | $1,338 | +42% |
| Cost Index | 85 | 111 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Moscow offers 35% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Moscow delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Springfield is estimated at
$33,240 vs $84,360 in Moscow.
| Metric | Springfield | Moscow |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $49,276 | $76,000 |
| Salary Needed | $33,240 | $84,360 |
| Purchasing Power | 57,972 idx | 68,468 idx |
| Household Income | $47,143 | $57,022 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Springfield | Moscow |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | 65.00% | % |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Moscow has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
3,500 minutes (58 hours) per year compared to Springfield.
Moscow scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Moscow leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Springfield | Moscow |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 21 min | 14 min |
| Transit Score | 13.0/10 | 45.0/10 |
| Walkability | 6.0/10 | 48.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 45.00 | 40.00 |
| Car Dependency | High | Medium |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Springfield is the larger city
— approximately 2.2x the population of Moscow.
From a growth perspective, Moscow is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Moscow has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Springfield | Moscow |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 58,190 | 26,286 |
| Pop. Growth | % | 0.80% |
| Median Age | 37.9 | 25.7 |
| Unemployment | 4.00% | 3.00% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $0.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
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]
Moscow
Advantages
High walkability score of 48, making many errands accessible on foot.
Short average commute time of 14.3 minutes, significantly below the national average.
Strong presence of the University of Idaho contributes to a vibrant cultural scene and job market.
Crime rates have seen a significant decrease, with violent crime rates well below the national average.
Rental prices are relatively affordable compared to national averages, despite a higher cost of living than the Idaho average.
Drawbacks
Median household income ($57,022) is below the national average.
Cost of living is 11% higher than the national average.
Limited public transit options contribute to a medium car dependency.
Job growth rate of 0.167% is modest.
Median age of 25.7 is significantly younger than the national average, which may not appeal to all demographics.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Springfield
#106Ohio, 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
Moscow
#14Idaho, USA
75.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,338
Avg Salary
$76,000
Cost Index
111
Commute
14 min
Transit Score
45.0/10
Walkability
48.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.80%
Unemployment
3.00%
Livability
87
Business
65
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