I am a Realtor in the area (not a commercial!)

The right spot will depend heavily on what you want your lifestyle to look like.

Springfield is the 3rd largest city in the state if you want a more urban feeling (even though it feels small in comparison to STL or KC) then Springfield is great. Hickory Hills to the East and (Kickapoo to the SW) are the most often I have requested.

Nixa- Has been the most popular suburb for most of my career. Its about 15 minutes south of Springfield and has a smaller town feel. With its popularity it the most expensive community as far as average sales price.

Ozark- Ozark is to the SE of Springfield and sits off of Highway 65 (which is a good thing if you do a lot of interstate travel)

Republic- Is the community I ultimately chose to live in. Republic is slated for a lot of growth over the next decade which means homes here are a solid investment. Ive had children in both Price and Scholfield elementary and have always been happy with it. One thing to keep in mind out here is the rail track. There is a cargo train that runs several times a day. If you're a fan of that it's a non-issue. If it's a concern make sure where ever you purchase is far enough away that you don't have to hear it!