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Living in Springfield, MO

Mid-size city in Missouri

Springfield is a mid-size city in Missouri, home to about 169,000 people, with 309,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.

Is Springfield a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $235k and rents for $1,500 a month
  • Low taxes: about $1,262 state income tax per resident, 0.77% property tax
  • Mild summers: highs around 87°F
  • Low natural disaster risk: 16 federally declared disasters since 2000

👎 Cons

  • Higher crime: violent crime is 4.0× the US rate (FBI 2019)
  • Smaller job market: about 309,000 people live within 31 mi
  • Fewer family amenities than most places
  • Few dog parks: 1 within 9 mi

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Springfield ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
169,000
309,000 within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
46°F / 87°F
Average daily highs · 14″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$235k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$1,500/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
89
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$1,262
State income tax per resident · 0.77% property tax
Safety
4.0× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
16 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding, heat waves
Top-rated hospitals
0
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
30%
No research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
TUL
159 mi away

Living in Springfield: common questions

What is the cost of living in Springfield?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $235k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,500 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 89, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Springfield?

Missouri collects about $1,262 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 0.77% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Springfield safe?

Violent crime is well above the national rate (4.0× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Springfield?

Springfield has cool winters: winter days average around 46°F and summer days around 87°F, with roughly 14″ of snow a year.

Does Springfield get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from flooding, heat waves and tornadoes: 16 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.92 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Springfield?

The nearest major airport is TUL, about 159 mi away.

How Springfield scores

Each bar compares Springfield with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Small city Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Suburban Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Some transit Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Culture & nature Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Cool winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Very affordable Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Relaxed Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Anonymous AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Apartments & houses ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Excellent
💸Low taxes Excellent
💼Job market Poor
🏥Healthcare Below average
🎓Education Below average
🧸Kids & family Poor
🐕Dog-friendly Poor
⛰️Outdoors Poor
🎭Culture Below average
🛡️Safety Higher crime
🌪️Few natural disasters Good
☀️Sunny Average
🌤️Mild summers Good
✈️Airport Average

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Is Springfield right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

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Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.