| Measure | Springfield (MO)Missouri, United States Remove Springfield (MO) | Albany (GA)Georgia, United States Remove Albany (GA) | MissoulaMontana, United States Remove Missoula | MurrietaCalifornia, United States Remove Murrieta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scores (out of 10) | ||||
| Overall score | 5.6 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.7 |
| Connector Score | 5.4 | 6.3 | 4.7 | 8.0 |
| Safety | 2.2 | — | 5.0 | 8.5 |
| Affordability | 7.7 | 8.2 | 6.6 | 3.1 |
| Transportation | 8.5 | 6.5 | 6.5 | 5.0 |
| Car-free friendliness | 6.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Walkability | 8.0 | 4.0 | 5.3 | 4.2 |
| Things to do | 5.8 | 5.5 | 6.0 | 6.1 |
| Food & dining | 4.9 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 6.7 |
| Places to stay | 5.9 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.9 |
| Nature & outdoors | 2.0 | 3.5 | 5.5 | 3.5 |
| Scenic value | 3.0 | 4.8 | 7.0 | 5.3 |
| Family friendliness | 5.9 | 6.7 | 6.5 | 7.2 |
| Solo-traveler friendliness | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 6.3 |
| Nightlife | 3.7 | 3.3 | 4.4 | 8.2 |
| Remote-work friendliness | 6.0 | 5.8 | 6.0 | 4.6 |
| Road-trip convenience | 5.8 | 6.0 | 5.6 | 6.5 |
| Train-trip convenience | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 7.0 |
| Bus-trip convenience | 8.0 | 6.3 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| Cost (per person per day, USD) | ||||
| Budget | $98 | $90 | $138 | $138 |
| Mid-range | $150 | $134 | $215 | $205 |
| Luxury | $248 | $223 | $360 | $370 |
| Living there | ||||
| Cost of living index (national = 100) | 88 | 83 | — | 135 |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent | $950 | $900 | $1,350 | $2,150 |
| Median home price | $177,700 | $124,300 | $473,100 | $657,000 |
| Population | 170K | 67K | 79K | 114K |
| Getting there | ||||
| Accessible by | Drive Bus Airport | Drive Bus Airport | Drive Airport | Drive Train |
| Car recommended | — | — | — | — |
| Travel time from Springfield (MO) | — | Far | Far | Far |
| Character | ||||
| Best for | — | Budget stays | — | Nightlife, History, Wine country |
| Known for | Museums & galleries, Historic sites, Wineries & breweries, Family & kids | Lakes & rivers, Museums & galleries, Historic sites, Wineries & breweries, Shopping, Family & kids | Mountains & hiking, Lakes & rivers, Museums & galleries, Historic sites, Wineries & breweries, Live music, Shopping, Family & kids | Lakes & rivers, Museums & galleries, Historic sites, Food scene, Wineries & breweries, Nightlife, Live music, Shopping, Family & kids |
| When to go | Peak: Summer and holiday weekends | Peak: Spring and fall weekends and special ev… | Peak: June to September and UM graduation and… | Peak: Spring to fall wine season and weekends |
Scores and costs are estimates from public data and our own research; check the city pages for sources and dates.