What Are The Pros And Cons Of Living In Springfield, MO?
The birthplace of Route 66, Springfield, is nestled in the Springfield Plateau of the Ozarks Region. The location is prime because it is near St. Louis, Tulsa, and Kansas City.
With high energy and a booming community, you will find big-city amenities throughout the area. With all the things to do in Springfield, there has been an upswing of people looking to relocate there. Whether you are interested in enjoying the outdoors or prefer to spend the day shopping, Springfield has something for you.
The pros of living in Springfield include plenty of places to explore, like caves, museums, and wineries. It’s a great spot to enjoy sporting events and cheer on the professional tennis team. The city is known for its education systems from kindergarten all the way up to the universities. With a low cost of living, it’s a less expensive alternative to larger cities. The cons include cold winters, humid summers, a fast-paced environment, and high crime rates.
Keep reading to see if Springfield is your next home!
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What Are The Pros Of Living In Springfield, MO?
Before packing and loading the family, there is a lot to consider first. Check out these pros before making your final decision.
Lots To Explore
If you love adventure, you won’t find a shortage of ideas in Springfield. The state is well-known for its caves, and there are thousands to choose from, although not all of them are open to the public.
For a guided tour, load up the family and head to Fantastic Caverns. They will give you a drive-through tour on a tram. Learn about the caves and take in all their history.
Parks and Trails
Don’t worry; if caverns aren’t your cup of tea, you can always find other adventures. Grab your bike and head out to the many trails and paths. Or enjoy a peaceful afternoon canoeing or relaxing in your kayak.
The Springfield area actually has around 100 parks that are all within driving distance. So whether you are in the mood to swim, go fly-fishing, spend the day boating, or go for a hike, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a spot.
Low Cost Of Living
Hold on to your seats for this one…You read it right! Springfield has an average of 12% lower cost of living compared to the national average. Living frugal and saving money never sounded so good.
Even more shocking is that the expenses for owning a home are 30% lower. The average price to buy a home is approximately $243,000. And if you are looking to rent instead of buy, the average is $760 a month.
Compared to the national average, even prices for gas and bus fares tend to be around 13% less. The low cost of living in Springfield, MO is one of the best parts of living in the city.
Job Market
There are many options for careers and jobs in Springfield. They have lots of manufacturing, health care, retail, and education.
Springfield is the main headquarters to amazing companies like:
- Bass Pro Shops
- O’Reilly Auto Parts
- Prime, Inc.
- Jack Henry & Associates
Because there are always new businesses coming to the area, the job market gives you endless possibilities.
Incredible Education
Not only do the schools in Springfield have innovative learning programs, but they have also won awards for all of their hard work. Three of the schools won an award for academic achievement. Plus, two of the high schools won medals for ranking as one of the “Best High Schools” by the U.S. News & World Reports.
There are five public schools, and proudly, all of them are A+ schools in Missouri. And the ACT score average for those schools all ranks above the national and state averages. As you can see, they take education very seriously and work hard to help the students excel.
You will find many public and private schools in the area. Many of the private schools are faith-based and offer curriculums that are both challenging and engaging to students.
Colleges & Universities
You’ll find everything from technical schools to four-year universities. Finding quality education is pretty easy in Springfield.
There is an excellent combination of private and public schools that offer a variety of programs and degrees. Take a look at these schools to consider:
- Missouri State University
- Drury University
- Southwest Baptist University – Bolivar
- Ozarks Technical Community College
- Evangel University
If you are interested in a career in healthcare, look into Cox College and Mercy Colleges. Both schools are nationally recognized in the top 100 integrated health systems. Springfield is well-known for its top-notch health care systems.
Amazing Sports Scene
Sports fanatics will feel at home cheering on the Springfield Cardinals! You’ll find the AA affiliate to the St. Louis Cardinals playing at Hammons Field. The stadium seats up to 8,000 excited fans.
Watch the Bears play basketball for Missouri State University, or cheer on the Drury Panthers. There is no shortage of live games to watch.
Tennis lovers are sure to have a blast at The Springfield Lasers professional tennis matches. The matches are located at the Cooper Tennis Complex, which happens to be a world-class arena.
Springfield has also hosted the National Christian Homeschool Basketball Championship.
As you can see, there are plenty of teams to cheer on and sporting events to keep busy with.
Home Of Major Retailers
Self-proclaimed shop-o-holics will find an oasis of stores and shops that will keep you busy. The Battlefield Mall has a whopping 134 stores!
Bass Pro Shop
The Bass Pro Shop store is 500,000 square feet. As you walk in the door, you can practically hear the fishing poles calling you by name. Bring some comfy shoes, because it’s a lot of area to cover in one day.
The most fascinating thing about the store is that it features three museums inside. You seriously don’t want to miss stopping by. Check out the Archery Hall of Fame, which is free and features more than 1,500 artifacts. There is also the NRA National Sporting Arms Museum to walk through while you take a break from shopping.
They have also opened the Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium. It features over 35,000 reptiles, mammals, birds, and fish. After all that walking, stop by the cafe and grab a bite to eat.
Wineries, Breweries, and Micro-Distilleries
Whether you love to have a drink with dinner or you are a connoisseur of craft spirits, wines, and beers, Springfield has a lot to offer.
Winos will want to check out the various wine tastings and tours, all located within 30 minutes of Springfield. Meadery, 7Cs Winery, and Stone Hill Winery are just a few options to consider.
These hot spots are a must:
- Missouri Spirits
- White River Brewing Company
- Mother’s Brewing Company
- Springfield Brewing Company
Because the breweries and wineries have gained lots of popularity over the last few years, it’s safe to assume that this market will continue to blossom.
What Are The Cons Of Living In Springfield, MO?
Overall, it’s a fantastic place to live. However, there are a few downsides to moving to Springfield for you to ponder.
Hot Summers & Snowy Winters
While natives are used to the incredibly hot and humid summers, if you aren’t accustomed, it can be a bit challenging. The temperatures during the summer months generally don’t get much higher than 89 degrees. Paired with the high humidity, it can feel like a sauna at times.
It does tend to get very cold in the winter months. The cold months tend to be short-lived and are from November – February. On average, you can expect Springfield to get around 14 inches of snow and 45 inches of rain every year. So, while it’s cold, 14 inches is about half of the national average for snowfall.
Find out the cost of living in Springfield, Missouri.
Fast-Paced Environment
Because Springfield has fantastic schools, a stable job market, housing opportunities, shopping, and entertainment, you can expect a fast-paced environment. There is so much to see and do. If you love crowds and people, you will enjoy city life. However, if you are more into tranquil and quiet communities, you may want to stick with a quiet suburb.
Transportation
Because you will most certainly have to travel to get to work, school, or entertainment, you are going to need to have transportation. If you are looking for a quaint town that you can spend lots of time walking or riding a bike, Springfield probably isn’t where you will want to call home.
The sheer size of Springfield and the volume of people make it hard to travel by foot. They do offer public transportation, and they have various ride services, like Uber.
Crime Rates
Unfortunately, the crime rates in Springfield have risen greatly over the years. The average is 94 crimes per 1000 residents. Because of those stats, it does make Springfield one of the highest crime rates in the United States. This includes small rural areas as well as booming cities.
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Our Conclusion
Springfield has many pros and cons to consider if you are planning a big move! One thing is for sure; you will never be bored if you move there. It’s a memorable place and has a lot to offer for recreation, entertainment, jobs, housing, and more. The pros certainly outweigh the cons like weather, transportation, and crime, and make Springfield a place to consider for people of all types.
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Paige is an elementary school librarian with a passion for writing. Her hobbies include reading an exorbitant amount of fantasy, slowly teaching herself to draw, and home decor. While she isn't the most talented artist or interior designer, what she lacks in skill she more than makes up for in enthusiasm. When she's not curled up with a book, you can certainly find her curled over the keyboard.
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