Which Is Better? Joplin Or Springfield (Branson: tornado, minimum wage, living in)

[xTheGeneralx]

I'm not saying Joplin is a bad place to live; I'm just saying, it's tough to find a job that pays more than $6.00 an hour TO LIVE. There is a reason why the cost of living in the Joplin area is the lowest in the country. Almost any place is better than NYC, or Detroit, or East St. Louis, or Chicago, or on-and-on... No matter where one lives, one has to make a decent living, pay the bills, and raise a family. If living pay check to pay check is something a person likes, than I would definitely suggest Joplin or Webb City. Springfield is a little better, but not by much. I'm also guessing this economy is not helping matters out around that entire area. Drugs... well, drugs are just about everywhere. It's too bad law enforcement in Joplin won't do much about it. In a city that size, they should be able to keep that sort of crime down to almost nothing. Remember... folks who live there vote their leaders into office, so it's the people's fault for allowing "Village Idiots" to run their cities. If a person has saved up enough money and has a retirement, Osage, Mo, Springfield, Branson, Fayetteville, Hot Springs Village, AR, and a few other places throughout the area are just fine. Lake living is great there. Most of the folks are wonderful people, but the crime in those areas can be fairly high compared to, lets say, smaller towns in Washington State. Here soon, most of us everywhere "will be in the same boat." If fact, it will be a sinking boat! Enjoy the peace and quiet.

[DocGSD]

Originally Posted by xTheGeneralx

I'm just saying, it's tough to find a job that pays more than $6.00 an hour TO LIVE. .

Considering minimum wage is over $6 per hour, I find this to be highly unlikely.

[joetownmom]

Originally Posted by DocGSD

Considering minimum wage is over $6 per hour, I find this to be highly unlikely.

No, it is actually quite true.

[xTheGeneralx]

Okay... "slip of the tongue." It was 5.00 an hour and just recently jumped to a hair over seven. Big freek'in deal! What kind of living can you have at just over 7 bucks an hour? The cost of living isn't that much different than anywhere else with respect to salaries. It really matters little with over 12.5 million people out of work and climbing fast. You still have to pay the mortgage or rent, taxes, school projects, clothing, food , vehicles, gas, home heating/cooling (by the way air conditioning is expensive in hot areas), and on and on. Again, I'm not saying it's a bad place to live, because in a short period of time, we're moving down there on the lake. We're retiring soon! You won't find better neighbors, friends, and community anywhere in the world. It's just extremely tough to "hack-out" a decent living. I know from where I speak; our family was "poorer than dirt!" I learned how to work very hard for what we got and it paid off when I went out into the world. It won't be long when living in a big city WILL be painful; our elected officials will see to it!

[xTheGeneralx]

I just want to add one more comment: There is a heavy price to pay for leaving Southern Missouri... one has to live around a bunch of Left-Wing nut cases. Friends in Missouri are usually friends for life; if one doesn't have the same believe systems, one makes very few REAL friends. Blessings in Christ to all!

[DocGSD]

Originally Posted by joetownmom

No, it is actually quite true.

So basically you say the minimum wage law fails to exist? And you figure this because?

[springfield is better]

A few reasons I think Springfield is better. The average income is about $12k more in Springfield. I am from a large cosmopolitan city and my time in Missouri will only be for a few more years. Springfield provides an easy affordable place to live. If someone is looking for diversity, not so much here, but Springfield really does try. I know of someone who is getting married and moving to Joplin. All I can think is OMG! He might be a great guy for her but living in Joplin (no offense natives please) would just be depressing to me. If whitebread USA is what you are looking for and a place to just pass the days then hey go for it. But if I read the stats correctly, Joplin has 1 high school. That should put everything in perspective. One thing I have learned living in smaller communities here in Missouri, they don't take to outsiders too much. Some families no matter how badly they would compare to other well respected famililies in other parts of the country are somehow revered for no obvious reason other than they have generations firmly rooted in the community. Don't even think of competing with these people even if you have more to offer business wise. You will get a "who do you think you are?" attitude. Much easier to live in Springfield simply because there are so many people from so many other states.

[Mollym313]

I live in Joplin and it has over 49,000 people plus a weekend/summer population 3 times more than that. The thing about Joplin is that it is the largest town in Jasper County and it brings in large numbers of the rural population into it on any given day. So when you come here...it seems bigger than it is. Plus it is connected to several small towns.

The other posts about Joplin jobs not paying very well is true. Springfield has more jobs and from what I've seen, better pay. The one thing you will find here is a lot of transplants from other states. I do not believe that Joplin does not accept outsiders. I do believe, however, that in past years this may not have been the case. Joplin has become more and more diverse over the years. So, overall, Joplin is not a bad place but I do agree that for more options, pay, etc. Springfield would be a better choice for those reasons.

[slyder1]

Ok I'm sorry if this offends anyone, but why is this even a topic? There is no comparison between Springfield and Joplin. Springfield is 3 and 1/2 times larger than Joplin, and more so for daytime/weekend population. The comment above about Joplin being 3 times the population on weekends/summer is just rediculous. The Springfield Metro area is a the second fastest growing metro in the midwest and in the top 50 in the US. Currently the Springfield MSA stands at 426,000. The Joplin MSA stands at 172,000. Hmmmm...

The cities don't compare on amenities at all

Springfield:
Bass Pro-Wonders of Wildlife
Hammons Field
Juanita K. Hammons Hall (Jerry Seinfeld, David Copperfield, Kathy Griffin...)
JQH Arena (MSU Basketball, The Eagles, Larry the Cable Guy, various other shows...)
Awesome downtown nightlife and nightlife in general
30 min. to Branson and the Lakes
Springfield Symphony
Landers Theater
Gillioz Theater
Vadivort Theater
Skinny Improv
Battlefield Mall
Missouri State University (and all the awesome events)
Drury University
Great Suburbs to live in... Ozark, Nixa, Republic, Willard.
I could go on and on...

Joplin:
Northpark Mall
Casino
MSSU


With all that being said I do not hate Joplin nor intend to bash the city, there is just no comparison with Springfield.

[Mollym313]

ok...maybe 3 times is exaggerating but don't take it so personal. Besides, since your attemping to be statistically correct than do the math on Jasper County and all the surrounding counties, including SE Kansas. Joplin is the largest town for miles. On the weekends and during the holidays this town grows significantly because there is nothing else around unless one does drive to Springfield but many don't like bigger cities so they come to Joplin. I lived in Lamar (45 minutes away in Barton county) and Joplin was the hotspot for nightlife and shopping. And.....if someone wants to compare both areas as a topic, then they have the right to do so.