Moving to Springfield, MO for CoxHealth or Mercy: Physicians & Nurses

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.

Springfield’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.

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.

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.

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. 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.
• 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

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.