Example household · Springfield, MO · $83,730 · same pay · 1 adult

Bonnie & Clyde Garage Apartment

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Springfield vs Joplin

Springfield and Joplin

Photo: AbeEzekowitz / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.

Same pay in both cities. One adult, one bedroom.

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So you know: homicide deaths in Joplin are under the US rate in this release, 4.7 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).

Why people look at Springfield to Joplin

In 2022-2023, 204 households filed a move from Springfield to Joplin (about 341 people, average adjusted gross income $45,784). 243 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.

A one-bedroom asking rent is about $865 in Springfield and $906 in Joplin. Springfield has a state tax on wages. Joplin has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Joplin is 82% of the national level for the same work, against 86% in Springfield.

Joplin averages 223 sunny days, with July highs around 90°F and January nights around 27°F. Springfield is 219 sunny days, 88°F in July, 26°F in January. Commutes average 20 minutes in Joplin and 23 in Springfield.

These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.

How we figure this

Who already made this move

In 2022-2023, 204 households moved Springfield → Joplin (about 341 people, average AGI $45,784). 243 households went the other way.

Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.

The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Springfield and Joplin changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.

What the move itself costs

About 90 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.

Full-service mover
$1,600–$3,050
Container or pod
$1,100–$2,050
Rent a truck
$400–$700

Movers in Joplin and how to hire one →

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Questions

Is Joplin cheaper than Springfield after tax and rent?

No. Joplin leaves about $67 less a month, so the cost of living is higher there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $865 in Springfield and $906 in Joplin.

Does Joplin have state income tax?

Joplin is in Missouri, which taxes wage income.

Did people actually move from Springfield to Joplin?

Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.