01 · the cities
Springfield
Springfield is the birthplace of Route 66 (the road was officially named in a meeting here in 1926), Bass Pro Shops' world headquarters, and the gateway to the Ozarks. Wonders of Wildlife (next to the Bass Pro store) is genuinely one of the best aquariums in America. The city itself is friendly, affordable, and surprisingly leafy. Branson is 30 miles south for the lake-and-show experience.
full dispatch→Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge is LSU football, the Mississippi River bending past downtown, and the kind of food (gumbo, jambalaya, boudin, po'boys) that makes you want to lie down after lunch. The Louisiana state capitol is the tallest in the country, a 34-story Art Deco tower that looks more like a Manhattan office building. Cajun warmth runs through everything, with a slightly more buttoned-up daily pace than New Orleans.
full dispatch→02 · the money
Median rent
Median rent
$1,249/mo
$1,361/mo
$112/mo more than Springfield (8%)
Median home price
Median home price
$268k
$250k
$18k less than Springfield
State income tax
State income tax
4.7%
3.0%
Gross left after rent
Gross left after rent
$6,693/mo
$6,722/mo
Gross left after rent reflects state income tax but not federal, based on $100k salary. Enter your salary to find your ideal city.
03 · the weather
Pleasant days/yr
Pleasant days/yr
170 days
187 days
17 more than Springfield
Extreme heat days
Extreme heat days
12 days
25 days
days above 95°F per year
Extreme cold days
Extreme cold days
20 days
1 days
days below 20°F per year
Baton Rouge has 13 more days above 95°F each year than Springfield. Springfield drops below 20°F on 19 more days per year than Baton Rouge.
04 · the life
OutdoorScore
OutdoorScore
50 / 100
50 / 100
Nonstop flights
Nonstop flights
9 routes
4 routes
5 fewer direct routes than Springfield
Metro size
Metro size
491k metro
874k metro
Springfield and Baton Rouge have similar event volume.
the verdict
3
Springfield
categories won
5
Baton Rouge
categories won
Baton Rouge wins on money and weather. Springfield has the edge on lifestyle.
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