Which Is Better? Joplin Or Springfield (Kansas City, Nixa: rentals, crime, how much)

[DocGSD]

Originally Posted by melissajo

Our police officers are overworked and underpaid. Starting pay is in the 20,000's with having to work late nights and weekends and holidays. It's hard to get people who are willing to do that, for no money.

According to JPD, starting pay for a police officer is $29,719. link: POLICE OFFICER TESTING Friday, Jan 10, 2003 Physical Agility Test: 9:00 a.m. at Fred G. Hugh
About a year ago, the city of Joplin passed a public safety sales tax. In that reading, (that I just happen to have on my computer) it said that the pay range for a "patrol officer" ranged up to $52,000 per year (more with rank). Also, it said that they have the best pension plan in the state of Missouri (20 years and out). While I agree, these men and women deserve more than they get, That seems to be average pay for this area of the country.

[d_weava]

Originally Posted by melissajo

Our house in Ozark/Springfield would cost us an extra 50,000 dollars.

it depends on what neighborhood you are in. A joplin house would probably be similar in cost to a north/west side springfield house. put a joplin house just east of 65 or south of james river freeway and yes it will be worth 50K more.

Estimated median house/condo value in
Joplin: 2005: $78,900 (it was $67,300 in 2000)
Ozark 2005: $120,800 (it was $91,900 in 2000)
Springfield 2005: $91,500 (it was $79,800 in 2000)
Branson 2005: $150,300 (it was $123,900 in 2000)

[DocGSD]

Originally Posted by d_weava

it depends on what neighborhood you are in. A joplin house would probably be similar in cost to a north/west side springfield house. put a joplin house just east of 65 or south of james river freeway and yes it will be worth 50K more.

Estimated median house/condo value in
Joplin: 2005: $78,900 (it was $67,300 in 2000)
Ozark 2005: $120,800 (it was $91,900 in 2000)
Springfield 2005: $91,500 (it was $79,800 in 2000)
Branson 2005: $150,300 (it was $123,900 in 2000)

You talk like there are no nice houses in Joplin. The Joplin Globe posted the residential construction permits a few weeks ago. 2004-2006 were the fastest growing two years in decades as far as house construction. There are several nice neighborhoods in Joplin. I would put many of them up aginst any in Springfield. I own rental property in Ozark and Nixa both. I don't buy many properties there but I can tell you that the price comparison that I have found on low to mid level 2+plex housing is minimal to none in that area to Joplin.

[Yodamite]

designer,

I take it you are into graphic design and the arts? Missouri State University in Springfield has the best Graphic Design department in the state. Art Chantry called it 'probably the best' program he had ever seen. Print Magazine featured an article on the Missouri State design program (formerly SMSU). Their design faculty is world-class.

However, I read your thoughts on Fall in the Ozarks. Honestly, I can't even remember the last time we had a nice Fall. Fall colors? Only if you consider brown a Fall color! It's usually humid and hot up until it suddenly, almost spontaneously, becomes cold. And the leaves just quickly fall off the trees.

The weather in springfield: Hot & steamy, hot & steamy...oh, wait! It's now 60 degrees! Oh look, a tornado!!!

And I'm not just saying that it's just hot in Springfield, because most of the time, you don't know what it's going to be. Sometimes it's icy, sometimes it's rainy, sometimes it's cold, sometimes it's hot--it can be all these things within just a few days of each other. It's the stupidest weather in the world!

That's the way it is in Springfield MO anyway. If you want a nice Fall, maybe try Springfield Massachusetts!

[Junk Bond]

Originally Posted by DocGSD

According to JPD, starting pay for a police officer is $29,719. link: POLICE OFFICER TESTING Friday, Jan 10, 2003 Physical Agility Test: 9:00 a.m. at Fred G. Hugh
About a year ago, the city of Joplin passed a public safety sales tax. In that reading, (that I just happen to have on my computer) it said that the pay range for a "patrol officer" ranged up to $52,000 per year (more with rank). Also, it said that they have the best pension plan in the state of Missouri (20 years and out). While I agree, these men and women deserve more than they get, That seems to be average pay for this area of the country.

Two of the most important jobs in the whole world - School teacher and ploice officer don't and haven't ever paid anything in Missouri. If your heart is set on either of those two careers I would go elsewhere. There's plenty of other jobs in this state that will pay mountains more than those.

[rockyprogress]

Originally Posted by innerpeacezz

I was thinking of moving to Springfield, Missouri. I heard that it is racist in Springfield, is this true ?? I don't want to move there if people can't see beyond a persons skin color.
Is Springfield, Missouri a good and quiet place to live for someone who is a Christian ??

Thank You, Innerpeacezz

I frequently travel through joplin on business. Twenty miles outside of Joplin on I44 I had car trouble, late one evening. Three people stopped to make sure I was ok. State Tropper was nice, the tow truck driver was nice, and the people at the Ford dealership were nice. The next day, I"m sitting at the intersection of Rangeline and East 32nd, and someone decided to yell out Moderator cut: inappropriate language repeatedly, across five lanes of traffic.


Mixed bag

[Sunrisemas]

How is the current
job market in Joplin?
Thank You

[DocGSD]

Originally Posted by Sunrisemas

How is the current
job market in Joplin?
Thank You

There are plenty of jobs here. What field do you have in mind?

[wishiwasuber]

As someone who has lived here all my life I will try to shed some light on the Joplin Part.
The population is just over 45,000 and during the day grows to well over 200,000. Decent schools (physically old buildings with the oldest built in 1910 but most from around the post WWI era) several colleges including Ozark Christian and 2 Vocational schools one also availible to high schoolers as part of the schedules. Housing and the cost of living is lower then average. Hospitals are decent. Plenty of jobs here as well. If you want a more Liberal atomosphere I suggest going north.

In comparison Joplin has a smaller town feel, the schools in joplin have been "Acredited with Distinction" 4 years in a row and are air conditioned (Springfield schools are not). Not as much to do in Joplin but is just 15 minutes of Oklahoma and Kansas and only about 30 from Arkansas where there are plenty of casinos and big name conerts are frequent just over the state line such as Ted Nugget, ZZ Top, Brookes and Duns, etc. Even though crime is bad in Joplin, Springfeild is worse. And Joplin just implamented a new public bus system with 3 busses. Joplin would be my pick.

[razzy]

Originally Posted by wishiwasuber

In comparison Joplin has a smaller town feel, the schools in joplin have been "Acredited with Distinction" 4 years in a row and are air conditioned (Springfield schools are not).

Wrong. Several schools in Springfield are air-conditioned, with more getting AC put in this summer.

Even though crime is bad in Joplin, Springfeild is worse.

Wrong again. Check out this comparison...

Crime Rate Comparison: Joplin Vs. Springfield

Both areas have high crime rates, but Joplin in 2006 had twice the rate of murder and forcible rape as Springfield does, and were higher in EVERY crime except for larceny theft.

And Joplin just implamented a new public bus system with 3 busses. Joplin would be my pick.

Springfield has had busses for years, and they have many more than 3 busses.