Performance
Score Breakdown
Altona
Springfield
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Springfield is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
19% higher compared to Altona.
Housing costs are a major driver: Altona's average rent is
70% higher than Springfield's.
| Metric | Altona | Springfield | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,618 | $950 | +70% |
| Groceries | $362 | $400 | -10% |
| Utilities | $208 | $180 | +16% |
| Transport | $69 | $120 | -43% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $250 | -100% |
| Monthly Total | $2,257 | $1,900 | +19% |
| Cost Index | 70 | 85 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Springfield offers 7% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Altona delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Altona is estimated at
$42,000 vs $33,240 in Springfield.
| Metric | Altona | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $46,008 | $49,276 |
| Salary Needed | $42,000 | $33,240 |
| Purchasing Power | 65,726 idx | 57,972 idx |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Altona | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | °F | °F |
| Summer High | °F | °F |
| Winter Low | °F | °F |
| Rainfall | in | in |
| Snowfall | in | in |
| Sunny Days | ||
| Humidity | % | 65.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Altona has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
4,500 minutes (75 hours) per year compared to Springfield.
Altona scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Altona leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Altona | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 12 min | 21 min |
| Transit Score | 85.0/10 | 13.0/10 |
| Walkability | 80.0/10 | 6.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 45.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Altona is the larger city
— approximately 4.8x the population of Springfield.
From a growth perspective, Altona is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Altona has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Altona | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 281,136 | 58,190 |
| Pop. Growth | 0.20% | % |
| Median Age | 42.3 | 37.9 |
| Unemployment | 3.71% | 4.00% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $0.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Altona
Advantages
Altona has a strong job market, particularly in media, advertising, and creative industries.
The borough offers excellent public transport connections via S-Bahn and U-Bahn, ensuring easy commutes.
Altona is known for its diverse, family-friendly environment and beautiful Elbe river views.
The area features a lively cultural scene with numerous restaurants, cafes, bars, and farmer's markets.
Altona is considered a safe place to live, with a safety rating of 4 out of 5.
Drawbacks
Rent in Altona is higher compared to some other districts within Hamburg.
Finding an apartment in Altona can be challenging due to high demand and low vacancy rates.
Some parts of Altona can feel too quiet in the evenings, depending on the specific neighborhood.
Parking can be confusing due to the prevalence of one-way streets.
There are reports of visible drug users and alcoholics near the train station, though they are generally described as peaceful.
Springfield
Advantages
Cost of living is approximately 15% below the national average, with housing costs running about 46% below the national norm. [25]
Median rent for a two-bedroom apartment is approximately $920 per month, significantly lower than the national average of $1,430. [25]
The median home value in Springfield is $102,100, which is 64% below the national average. [41]
Springfield has a lower rent-to-income ratio compared to other small metros in Ohio, indicating better rental affordability. [14]
The city is actively working on downtown revitalization, with new residential housing and entertainment venues. [30]
Drawbacks
Springfield has a high crime rate, significantly above both state and national averages, with a concerning trend in violent and property crimes. [9, 26]
The violent crime rate in Springfield is 1371.1 per 100,000 residents, which is substantially higher than the national average. [9]
Springfield has one of the highest crime rates in America, with a chance of becoming a victim of crime being one in 17. [26]
The city's walkability score is very low, indicating a high dependency on cars for transportation. [22, 38]
The median household income of $47,143 is below the national average, and the poverty rate is 23.1%, higher than the national average. [3, 39]
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Altona
#2Hamburg, Germany
75.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,618
Avg Salary
$46,008
Cost Index
70
Commute
12 min
Transit Score
85.0/10
Walkability
80.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.20%
Unemployment
3.71%
Livability
80
Business
70
Springfield
#111Ohio, USA
65.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$950
Avg Salary
$49,276
Cost Index
85
Commute
21 min
Transit Score
13.0/10
Walkability
6.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.00%
Livability
70
Business
60
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