--- title: "Moving to Springfield, MO for CoxHealth or Mercy: Physicians & Nurses" date: 2026-10-31 author: "Zac Albers" --- # Moving to Springfield, MO for CoxHealth or Mercy: Physicians & Nurses ## Moving to Springfield for CoxHealth or Mercy: A Local Broker’s Guide for Physicians and Nurses Taking a position at CoxHealth or Mercy in Springfield, Missouri? Here is where the hospitals sit, how far each nearby town is from them, what homes cost, how licensing and taxes change, and how to buy a house here before you’ve moved. ## Quick Answer: Where Should Hospital Staff Live in Springfield? Both main hospitals are on Springfield’s south side, about two and a half miles apart. Mercy Hospital Springfield is at 1235 E. Cherokee St., and Cox Medical Center South is at 3801 S. National Ave. That puts south Springfield, Battlefield, Nixa, Ozark and Republic within roughly 5 to 10 straight-line miles of both. Springfield’s median home price was $249,000 for January–September 2026, and the southern suburbs ran $340,000 to $345,000. Nurses with a multistate license can practice here right away, because Missouri is in the Nurse Licensure Compact. **2 Level I**Trauma centers: Cox South and Mercy **~2.4 mi**Between Mercy and Cox South **$249K**Springfield median, Jan–Sep 2026 **4.7%**Missouri’s top income tax rate **0%**Springfield city earnings tax **Compact**Missouri is a Nurse Licensure Compact state ## The Hospitals at a Glance ### CoxHealth CoxHealth is a Springfield-based system with more than 14,000 employees and six hospitals across southwest Missouri. In Springfield, the main campus is **Cox Medical Center South** (3801 S. National Ave.), a Level I trauma center, plus **Cox North** (1423 N. Jefferson Ave.) and Meyer Orthopedic and Surgical Hospital next to Cox South. St. Louis Children’s at CoxHealth opened on the Cox South campus in March 2026. ### Mercy **Mercy Hospital Springfield** (1235 E. Cherokee St.) is a Level I trauma center with 637 staffed beds and a Level IIIB NICU. Its campus also includes Mercy Heart Hospital, Mercy Orthopedic Hospital, Mercy Kids, the Jane Pitt Pediatric Cancer Center and a burn center. Mercy is a multistate system, and its Springfield hospital lists about 1,120 providers in its fiscal 2026 numbers. Because Mercy and Cox South are only a couple of miles apart on the south side, a home that works for one usually works for the other. That’s helpful for two-career medical households, or if you change employers later. ## How Far Is Each Town From the Hospitals? Straight-line miles from each town’s Census center point to each hospital, with the latest year-to-date median sale prices from our own market reports. Driving distance is longer, and your exact address matters more than the town. Distance to Springfield’s hospitals and median home priceTownTo MercyTo Cox SouthMedian, Jan–Sep 2026[Springfield](/homes-for-sale-springfield-mo/)1.5 mi3.6 mi$249,000[Battlefield](/homes-for-sale-battlefield-mo/)6.6 mi5.2 mi—[Nixa](/homes-for-sale-nixa-mo/)9.3 mi6.9 mi$339,782[Republic](/homes-for-sale-republic-mo/)7.6 mi7.5 mi$269,952[Ozark](/homes-for-sale-ozark-mo/)10.5 mi8.4 mi$344,950[Strafford](/homes-for-sale-strafford-mo/)10.7 mi12.4 mi$282,500[Willard](/homes-for-sale-willard-mo/)11.1 mi12.7 mi$276,965[Rogersville](/homes-for-sale-rogersville-mo/)11.9 mi11.5 mi—[Fair Grove](/homes-for-sale-fair-grove-mo/)15.7 mi17.9 mi$322,000Springfield’s center point is near downtown. Many south Springfield neighborhoods sit closer to the hospitals than these figures. “—” means we don’t publish a monthly report for that town yet. ## Where Physicians and Nurses Tend to Look ### Shortest commute: south Springfield Living inside Springfield on the south side puts you minutes from both hospitals without a highway. It’s also where you’ll find the widest range of prices, from starter homes to larger homes in established neighborhoods. Browse [homes for sale in Springfield](/homes-for-sale-springfield-mo/). ### Schools and newer subdivisions: Nixa and Ozark Nixa and Ozark sit directly south. Nixa feeds north on Highway 160 (Campbell Ave.) toward Cox South, and Ozark comes up U.S. 65. Both have newer subdivisions and their own school districts, and their medians run near the top of the area. See our [Nixa vs. Ozark comparison](/nixa-vs-ozark-mo/). ### A bit more for the money: Republic and Battlefield Republic is just southwest of Springfield along U.S. 60 and the James River Freeway, with a median well below Nixa and Ozark. Battlefield is a small city right on Springfield’s southwest edge, one of the closest options to Cox South outside the city. ### Room to spread out If you want acreage, Rogersville, Strafford, Willard and Fair Grove trade a longer drive for more land. Check with your department about any on-call response-time rule before you choose a home farther out. ## Licensing and Taxes - **Nurses:** Missouri is a member of the Nurse Licensure Compact. If your primary state of residence is another compact state, your multistate license already covers Missouri. When you move here and Missouri becomes your primary state of residence, the compact requires you to apply for a Missouri license within 60 days. Coming from a non-compact state, apply by endorsement through the Missouri State Board of Nursing. - **Physicians:** Licensing goes through the Missouri State Board of Registration for the Healing Arts. Start early. Hospital credentialing usually can’t finish until your Missouri license is issued. - **State income tax:** Missouri’s graduated rates top out at 4.7%. Starting with the 2025 tax year, Missouri no longer taxes capital gains. - **No city earnings tax:** Springfield has none. In Missouri, only Kansas City and St. Louis do. - **Property taxes:** These are lower than in many states. See [Missouri property taxes explained](/missouri-property-taxes-explained/). ## Financing: Physician Loans and Other Options Many lenders offer **physician mortgage loans** (often called doctor loans) built for doctors early in their careers. Terms vary by lender, but they commonly allow: - little or no down payment, without private mortgage insurance (PMI) - student loan debt counted differently than a standard loan would - a signed employment contract in place of pay stubs, which helps when your start date is weeks away Rates and fees can be a little higher than a conventional loan, so compare both. Nurses and other buyers have strong low-down-payment options too: FHA, USDA in eligible areas, VA for veterans, and [down payment assistance programs](/down-payment-assistance-springfield-mo/). We’re happy to connect you with a local lender. ## Buying Before You Arrive Most people moving here for a hospital job are house hunting while still working somewhere else. We set up the search for that. - **Video tours:** We walk homes live on video so you can narrow the list before you fly in. - **One focused trip:** We line up your top homes for a single weekend, often around your interview or orientation. - **Paperwork from a distance:** Much of it can be signed electronically. Ask the title company about closing remotely. See [buying a house from out of state](/buying-a-house-from-out-of-state-springfield-mo/). - **Timing:** If your contract has a start date, tell your lender early. Some physician loan programs can close before your start date when you have a signed contract. ## Frequently Asked Questions: Moving to Springfield for a Hospital Job Where should I live if I work at CoxHealth or Mercy in Springfield?Both main hospitals are on Springfield’s south side, about two and a half miles apart. Mercy is at 1235 E. Cherokee St. and Cox Medical Center South is at 3801 S. National Ave. South Springfield gives the shortest commute. Battlefield, Nixa, Republic and Ozark are roughly 5 to 10 straight-line miles away. How far is Nixa from Cox South and Mercy?About 7 straight-line miles to Cox South and about 9 to Mercy, measured from Nixa’s center. Most Nixa commuters take Highway 160 (Campbell Ave.) north. What does a home cost near Springfield’s hospitals?Springfield’s median sale price was $249,000 for January–September 2026. Republic’s was about $270,000, and Nixa’s and Ozark’s were about $340,000 to $345,000 (SOMO MLS closed sales, AREG market reports). Is Missouri a Nurse Licensure Compact state?Yes. A multistate license from another compact state lets you practice in Missouri. When Missouri becomes your primary state of residence, you have 60 days to apply for a Missouri license. Nurses coming from non-compact states apply by endorsement through the Missouri State Board of Nursing. Can doctors buy a home in Springfield with no money down?Often, yes. Many lenders offer physician mortgage loans with little or no down payment and no PMI. They typically treat student loans differently and can use a signed employment contract to verify income. Terms vary by lender, so compare offers. Does Springfield have a city income or earnings tax?No. In Missouri, only Kansas City and St. Louis have a city earnings tax. You’ll pay Missouri state income tax, which tops out at 4.7%. ## Related Reading [Moving to Springfield, MO → The complete relocation guide: neighborhoods, schools, weather, jobs and daily life.](/moving-to-springfield-mo/) [Buying From Out of State → How to buy a Springfield-area home before you’ve moved.](/buying-a-house-from-out-of-state-springfield-mo/) [Best Small Towns Near Springfield → How the towns around Springfield compare, from a local broker.](/towns-near-springfield-mo/) Sources: CoxHealth system size, hospitals and Cox South details: CoxHealth public information, 2026. Mercy Hospital Springfield beds, trauma level, campus and provider count: Mercy “Quick Facts,” FY2026. Hospital locations: U.S. Census geocoder. Town center points: U.S. Census TIGERweb. Median prices: AREG September 2026 market reports (SOMO MLS closed sales). Nurse Licensure Compact rules: NCSBN (nursecompact.com). Missouri tax rates and capital gains: Missouri Department of Revenue. This page is general information, not legal, tax or lending advice. ## Starting a new role at Cox or Mercy? Tell us your start date, your shift and what you want in a home, and we’ll build a short list around your commute. Call Zac directly at [417-413-4305](tel:417-413-4305); he answers his own phone. Or fill out the short form below.