Independence vs Springfield
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $162,100 in Springfield and $172,900 in Independence.
- Households earn more in Springfield ($66,064 vs $60,339 median).
- Independence has the warmer winter: January highs of 40°F vs 36°F.
- Springfield gets far more snow: 22 inches a year vs 11.
- Commutes are shorter in Springfield (17 vs 24 minutes each way).
Side by side
| Independence, MO | Springfield, IL | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 121,675 | 112,989 |
| Growth since 2020 | -1% | -1.4% |
| People per square mile | 1,560 | 1,844 |
| Median age | 39.0 | 41.0 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22% | 36% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $60,339 | $66,064 |
| Median home value | $172,900 | $162,100 |
| Home value to income | 2.9× | 2.5× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,109 | $975 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 92.5 | 92.7 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 86.6 | 71.6 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $69,400 | $69,600 |
| Homeowners | 61% | 64% |
| Top state income tax | 4.7% | 4.95% |
| Combined sales tax | 8.44% | 8.98% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 23.9 | 17.4 |
| Work from home | 12% | 15% |
| Take public transit | 1% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 5.6% | 6.8% |
| Poverty rate | 15.8% | 16.8% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 40° / 22° | 36° / 20° |
| July high / low | 90° / 72° | 87° / 66° |
| Precipitation per year | 38 in | 38 in |
| Snowfall per year | 11 in | 22 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 47 | 28 |
| Nights below freezing | 93 | 111 |
| Comfortable months | 3 | 4 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively High | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 96.5 | 91.7 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 49% | 70% |
| Home prices, past year | +3.2% | +5.1% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +42.4% | +42.1% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Independence: April and September to October. Springfield: April and August to October.
Full monthly tables: Independence weather by month and Springfield weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $69,400 in Independence and $69,600 in Springfield. Moving from Independence to Springfield, you would need about $75,200 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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