Jonesboro vs Springfield
The short version
- Jonesboro is cheaper overall: prices in its metro run 3% lower than in the Springfield area (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $177,700 in Springfield and $223,200 in Jonesboro.
- Households earn more in Jonesboro ($55,424 vs $49,311 median).
- Springfield gets far more snow: 14 inches a year vs 4.
- Jonesboro has more scorching days: 66 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 40.
- Jonesboro is growing faster: +6.1% since 2020 vs +0.4%.
Side by side
| Jonesboro, AR | Springfield, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 83,296 | 169,847 |
| Growth since 2020 | +6.1% | +0.4% |
| People per square mile | 1,039 | 2,039 |
| Median age | 33.9 | 33.7 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 32% | 31% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $55,424 | $49,311 |
| Median home value | $223,200 | $177,700 |
| Home value to income | 4.0× | 3.6× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $956 | $964 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 85.9 | 88.6 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 53.8 | 65.6 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $64,400 | $66,400 |
| Homeowners | 54% | 44% |
| Top state income tax | 3.9% | 4.7% |
| Combined sales tax | 9.48% | 8.44% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 18.0 | 17.6 |
| Work from home | 8% | 10% |
| Take public transit | 0% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 6.3% | 4.3% |
| Poverty rate | 22.8% | 18.4% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 47° / 31° | 44° / 24° |
| July high / low | 91° / 72° | 90° / 69° |
| Precipitation per year | 49 in | 45 in |
| Snowfall per year | 4 in | 14 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 66 | 40 |
| Nights below freezing | 65 | 95 |
| Comfortable months | 2 | 3 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively Moderate | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 91.8 | 90.1 |
| Good air days, 2025 | n/a | 63% |
| Home prices, past year | -1% | +4% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +29.2% | +47.8% |
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: Jonesboro: September to October. Springfield: June and September to October.
Full monthly tables: Jonesboro 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 $64,400 in Jonesboro and $66,400 in Springfield. Moving from Jonesboro to Springfield, you would need about $77,400 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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