Altenburg
Thuringia, Germany
#1 in Germany
76
Overall Score
VS
Springfield
Ohio, USA
#117 in USA
65
Overall Score
Altenburg scores higher overall

Score Breakdown

Altenburg
Springfield
Livability
84
70
Affordability
75
85
Business
72
60
Growth
65
60

Cost of Living

Altenburg is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately 4% lower compared to Springfield. Housing costs are a major driver: Altenburg's average rent is 11% higher than Springfield's.
MetricAltenburgSpringfieldDiff
Average Rent
$1,050$950+11%
Groceries
$565$400+41%
Utilities
$126$180-30%
Transport
$82$120-32%
Healthcare
$0$250-100%
Monthly Total
$1,823$1,900-4%
Cost Index
9085out of 100

Salary & Income

Springfield offers 4% lower average salaries. However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Springfield delivers stronger purchasing power — meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day. The minimum comfortable salary in Altenburg is estimated at $24,534 vs $33,240 in Springfield.
MetricAltenburgSpringfield
Average Salary
$47,124$49,276
Salary Needed
$24,534$33,240
Purchasing Power
52,360 idx57,972 idx
Household Income
$45,845$47,143

Climate Comparison

Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
MetricAltenburgSpringfield
Avg Temp
°F°F
Summer High
°F°F
Winter Low
°F°F
Rainfall
in in
Snowfall
in in
Sunny Days
Humidity
69.00%65.00%

Commute & Transport

Altenburg has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly 10,500 minutes (175 hours) per year compared to Springfield. Altenburg scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living. For walkability, Altenburg leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
MetricAltenburgSpringfield
Commute Time
min21 min
Transit Score
75.0/1013.0/10
Walkability
77.0/106.0/10
Traffic Index
45.00
Car Dependency
MediumHigh

Economy & Demographics

Springfield is the larger city — approximately 0.5x the population of Altenburg. From a growth perspective, Altenburg 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.
MetricAltenburgSpringfield
Population
31,58058,190
Pop. Growth
0.58%%
Median Age
37.9
Unemployment
6.20%4.00%
GDP
$0.0B$0.0B

Pros & Cons

Altenburg
Advantages
Altenburg boasts a very high quality-of-life score of 84/100, with strengths in healthcare, green space, cleanliness, and infrastructure.
The city is highly safe, ranking in the upper tier with a safety index of 83/100, characterized by strong personal safety and low night-time crime.
Altenburg is considered very family-friendly, supported by good education access, safety, parks, and healthcare.
The cost of living is manageable, with a single resident spending approximately $1,574 per month excluding rent, which is around the average for Germany.
The city offers excellent walkability (77/100) and cycling (83/100) scores, along with a functional public transport network.
Drawbacks
Altenburg has a smaller social bubble and a more limited international scene compared to major metropolitan hubs.
Local integration for non-German speakers may be more demanding due to a lower density of English speakers.
The city experienced a significant population decline of nearly 40% since 1988, indicating historical economic challenges.
Specific job growth rates and new business growth rates for Altenburg are not readily available, making economic growth assessment challenging.
The median age is not precisely available, but the age distribution suggests a notable proportion of older residents, which could impact future workforce dynamics.
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]

Dive Deeper

Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.

Altenburg
#1
Thuringia, Germany
76.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,050
Avg Salary
$47,124
Cost Index
90
Commute
min
Transit Score
75.0/10
Walkability
77.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.58%
Unemployment
6.20%
Livability
84
Business
72
View Full Profile
Springfield
#117
Ohio, 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
View Full Profile

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