Springfield cost of living
Prices in the Springfield, MA metro area run at 96.1 against a national average of 100, ranking it #144 of 387 metros. Rents there sit at 75.8.
What drives the number
Prices in Springfield run at 96.1 where the national average is 100, so about 3.9 per cent below the country as a whole. It ranks #144 of 387 metro areas. Against Massachusetts as a whole it is 9.7 points less expensive, which is the unusual direction, and it means the expensive part of the state is somewhere else.
Housing is unusually cheap relative to everything else here. Rents sit at 75.8 against goods at 97.0 and other services at 155.0, so the overall figure of 96.1 understates how affordable the housing itself is. That combination, ordinary prices with cheap rent, is what people are usually looking for and rarely find.
A salary here goes further than the same salary somewhere at 100. Divide by 96.1 and multiply by 100 to get the nationally comparable figure, and it will come out higher than the headline.
The vertical line is the national average of 100. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, SARPP, 2024.
What the biggest local jobs are really worth
The same pay buys different amounts in different places, so a salary quoted in Springfield is not comparable to one quoted elsewhere until it is divided by the local parity. These are the occupations that employ the most people here, with the quoted median alongside what that median is worth at national prices.
| Occupation | Employed | Median pay | Worth nationally | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | 7,450 | $66,530 | $69,230 | $93,600 |
| General and Operations Managers | 7,340 | $72,400 | $75,338 | $102,950 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 6,820 | $35,670 | $37,118 | $37,090 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 6,550 | $52,750 | $54,891 | $57,440 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 6,230 | $29,900 | $31,113 | $34,900 |
| Cashiers | 5,360 | $28,720 | $29,886 | $31,190 |
| Retail Salespersons | 5,280 | $30,720 | $31,967 | $34,580 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 4,930 | $40,940 | $42,601 | $42,830 |
Pay from the BLS metro survey, adjusted by dividing by the metro parity of 96.1.
Nearby metro areas
| Metro area | All items | Rents | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton | 108.3 | 148.4 | #19 |
| Worcester | 102.5 | 113.0 | #52 |
| Providence-Warwick | 101.8 | 103.9 | #59 |
| Amherst Town-Northampton | 100.2 | 97.5 | #84 |
| Barnstable Town | 98.4 | 90.0 | #103 |
| Pittsfield | 95.1 | 73.5 | #166 |
Springfield: common questions
Is Springfield expensive?
Prices are 3.9% below the national average, a parity of 96.1 where the country is 100. It ranks #144 of the 387 metro areas BEA measures. Against Massachusetts as a whole it is 9.7 points less expensive.
What salary do you need in Springfield?
The median worker there earns $44,110, which buys what $45,900 buys nationally once local prices are taken into account. Comparing a salary offer between cities without this adjustment is comparing nothing useful.
Is housing the reason?
Usually. Rents here are at 75.8 against goods at 97.0. Goods barely vary between American cities because most are shipped and priced nationally; housing varies enormously, and it dominates any cost of living comparison.