Springfield receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway
Springfield
Opportunity
71 · Top 21%
vs73 · Top 19%
Growth
64 · Top 28%
vs67 · Top 23%
Climate
66 · Top 50%
vs72 · Top 30%
Physical resilience
43 · Bottom 33%
vs66 · Top 36%
Housing affordability
96 · Top 45%
vs94 · Bottom 47%
Access
90 · Top 24%
vs92 · Top 20%
Economic stability
56 · Top 43%
vs68 · Top 28%
Measured values
| Metric | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | Springfield | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 758,629 | 486,785 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $67,154 | $65,071 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $38,553 | $36,122 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 186/sq mi | 162/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $214,100 | $230,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,055 | $972 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 63.7% | 63.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | 3.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 2.2% | 1.1% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 33.7% | 30.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 14.2% | 13.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 2,773 | 1,972 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.7 | 4.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -12.7% | -7.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 92°F | 88°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 31°F | 23°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 50.4" | 46.5" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 10 mi | 14 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.1 min | 23.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 37.6 | 37.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm.
Springfield
Elevated or high exposure: ice storm, earthquake.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway
70
Your Score
68
Area Score
Springfield
76
Your Score
75
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR Metro Area · Springfield, MO Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology