Is it cheaper to live in Concord or Springfield?

Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Concord, NH's $1,410, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Concord than in Springfield?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Concord versus $31,000 in Springfield.

Which has lower taxes, Concord or Springfield?

Concord is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Springfield under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax).

Concord vs Springfield Cost of Living 2026

Concord

New Hampshire

$1,410/mo est.

Springfield

Missouri

$970/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $1,410 in Concord, NH versus $970 in Springfield, MO. Overall, Springfield, MO is roughly 31% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Concord, NH, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $83,701 in Concord, NH and $45,984 in Springfield, MO — about 45% higher in Concord, NH. New Hampshire has no state income tax and no state sales tax; Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax.

Concord, NH

Springfield, MO

Rent

Studio

$876

$760

+13% in Concord, NH

1 Bedroom

$1,134

$772

+32% in Concord, NH

2 Bedroom

$1,475

$926

+37% in Concord, NH

3 Bedroom

$1,769

$1,158

+35% in Concord, NH

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$323,700

$165,200

+49% in Concord, NH

Income

Median Household Income

$83,701

$45,984

+45% in Concord, NH

Metro Median Wage (annual)

—

$45,780

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

40.7 yr

33.6 yr

+7.1 yr in Concord, NH

Homeownership

57.4%

42.9%

+14.5 pp in Concord, NH

Bachelor's+ (25+)

40.1%

30.3%

+9.8 pp in Concord, NH

Avg Commute

23.2 min

18.0 min

+5.2 min in Concord, NH

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

180.7

1,189.8

+558% in Springfield, MO

Property Crime

1,251.5

4,231.6

+238% in Springfield, MO

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

46.4°F

56.3°F

+9.9°F in Springfield, MO

Annual Precipitation

40.6 in

45.6 in

+5.0 in in Springfield, MO

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.85/gal

+2% in Concord, NH

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Midwest (PADD 2).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

27.0

16.2

+40% in Concord, NH

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$21.67

$28.78

+33% in Springfield, MO

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.92

$1.66

+14% in Concord, NH

Eggs (doz)

$2.19

$3.63

+66% in Springfield, MO

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.90

$6.77

+2% in Concord, NH

Chicken (lb)

$2.19

$2.10

+4% in Concord, NH

Bananas (lb)

$0.69

$0.62

+11% in Concord, NH

Average prices — Northeast vs Midwest (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (NH / MO)

None

4.225%

+4.2 pp in MO

Income Tax (top rate)

None

4.70%

+4.7 pp in MO

Concord vs Springfield — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Concord or Springfield?: Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 31% below Concord, NH's $1,410, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Concord than in Springfield?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $45,000 a year in Concord versus $31,000 in Springfield.
Which has lower taxes, Concord or Springfield?: Concord is taxed under New Hampshire's rules (no state income tax and no state sales tax); Springfield under Missouri's (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).