City Comparison
Barrie vs Springfield
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Barrie scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Barrie
Springfield
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Springfield is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately
26% higher compared to Barrie.
Housing costs are a major driver: Barrie's average rent is
76% higher than Springfield's.
| Metric | Barrie | Springfield | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,669 | $950 | +76% |
| Groceries | $450 | $400 | +13% |
| Utilities | $182 | $180 | +1% |
| Transport | $90 | $120 | -25% |
| Healthcare | $0 | $250 | -100% |
| Monthly Total | $2,391 | $1,900 | +26% |
| Cost Index | 85 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Barrie offers 2% higher average salaries.
The minimum comfortable salary in Barrie is estimated at
$66,756 vs $33,240 in Springfield.
| Metric | Barrie | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $50,212 | $49,276 |
| Salary Needed | $66,756 | $33,240 |
| Household Income | $73,434 | $47,143 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
| Metric | Barrie | 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
Barrie has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
10,500 minutes (175 hours) per year compared to Springfield.
Springfield scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Springfield leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Barrie | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | min | 21 min |
| Transit Score | 0.0/10 | 13.0/10 |
| Walkability | 0.0/10 | 6.0/10 |
| Traffic Index | 45.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Barrie is the larger city
— approximately 2.9x the population of Springfield.
From a growth perspective, Barrie is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Springfield has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Barrie | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 169,419 | 58,190 |
| Pop. Growth | 2.10% | % |
| Median Age | 39.8 | 37.9 |
| Unemployment | 9.20% | 4.00% |
| GDP | $0.0B | $0.0B |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Barrie
Advantages
Barrie has been consistently ranked as one of Canada's safest cities, with a Crime Severity Index significantly below the national average.
The city is experiencing strong population growth, projected to nearly double by 2051, indicating a dynamic and expanding community.
Housing costs in Barrie are considerably lower than in the Greater Toronto Area, offering more affordable homeownership opportunities.
Its prime location on Kempenfelt Bay provides extensive waterfront access, beaches, and outdoor recreational activities year-round.
The Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) is a major regional hospital and Level III trauma centre, ensuring high-quality healthcare access.
Drawbacks
Barrie experienced a relatively high unemployment rate of 9.2% in April 2026, which is above the national average.
A significant portion of Barrie's working residents commute to the Greater Toronto Area, leading to longer commute times for many.
Rental prices in Barrie are slightly above the Canadian national average, impacting affordability for renters.
While efforts are underway, the current job market requires further development to meet the needs of its growing population and reduce out-of-city commuting.
Specific public transit and walkability scores are not readily available, suggesting potential areas for improvement in urban mobility infrastructure.
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.
Barrie
#4Ontario, Canada
77.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,669
Avg Salary
$50,212
Cost Index
Commute
min
Transit Score
0.0/10
Walkability
0.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
2.10%
Unemployment
9.20%
Livability
75
Business
65
Springfield
#135Ohio, USA
48.8 / 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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