Kennewick-Richland Springfield

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from Kennewick-Richland to Springfield is neutral, depends on priorities: BEA regional price parity goes from 100.1 to 88.6 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent falls by $443/mo.

-$18,284
BLS median salary lower in Springfield
329 to 463
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
17.6:1 to 12.8:1
NCES student-teacher ratio

BEA Regional Price Parity, HUD Fair Market Rent, BLS OEWS, FBI UCR, NCES, and DOL. The table below lets you override the composite with your own priorities.

Verdict
Neutral, depends on priorities
Cost Index: 100.1 → 88.6
Rent Delta: -$443/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + 11% lower cost of living
  • + $443/mo cheaper rent (2BR)
  • + Better student-teacher ratios

Cons of Moving

  • - $18K lower median salary
  • - Higher violent crime rate
  • - More environmental violations

Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP falls from 100.1 to 88.6, so each dollar covers more in Springfield (ratio 0.89). HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent drops $443/mo ($5,316/yr) from $1,538 in Kennewick-Richland to $1,095 in Springfield.

The seven-dimension ledger splits (3 destination wins · 3 origin wins); priorities decide this move. Springfield sits #134 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). Kennewick-Richland is #195/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Neutral, depends on priorities. Override it with the dimension table below.

BLS OEWS median salary moves $18,284 lower ($78,814 → $60,530). Labor-market size: 120,710 tracked jobs at origin vs 216,300 at destination.

State retirement friendliness favors the destination: Missouri scores 68 (C, #12/51) vs Washington at 38 (F, #51/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
Kennewick-Richland
Springfield
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 100.1
RPP 88.6
Springfield
Rent (2BR)
$1,538/mo
$1,095/mo
Springfield
Wages
$78,814
$60,530
Kennewick-Richland
Crime
329 per 100K
463 per 100K
Kennewick-Richland
Schools
17.6:1
12.8:1
Springfield
Childcare
$15,987/yr
N/A
Tie
Environment
2879 violations
6737 violations
Kennewick-Richland

State retirement friendliness

Primary-state scores from PlainRelocate's retirement registry (tax + healthcare + climate composite). Metro pairs use each metro's primary state abbreviation.

Origin state · Washington
38 F #51/51
Income tax
63
Property tax
63
Estate tax
50
Healthcare
18
Destination state · Missouri
68 C #12/51
Income tax
82
Property tax
68
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
80

Full retirement ranking · Source composite documented on methodology (Tax Foundation + AARP tax guides + federal healthcare/climate inputs).

Salary Adjustment Calculator

Enter your current salary in Kennewick-Richland to see what you'd need to earn in Springfield to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Springfield
-

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA; retirement desk: Tax Foundation + AARP tax guides June 2026