Springfield, MA Relocation Guide (2026)
Cost of living, housing, and income data for Springfield, sourced from the US Census Bureau.
Salary needed to live in Springfield →
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022). Last updated July 2026.
Population in Springfield, Massachusetts runs approximately 155,305. Median household income sits at $47,677, landing below the benchmark median we track across cities (-34%).
For renters and buyers alike, Springfield offers a median home value of $198,500 (below the tracked median, -39%) and median rent of $1,047 monthly. Local property taxes and current mortgage rates will shape the real cost of buying.
Springfield's home-price-to-income ratio of about 4.2× is fairly typical — housing costs track reasonably in line with local pay. Year-over-year, home values around Springfield are up 5.27%, a pace in line with a healthy, unremarkable market. FEMA classifies Springfield's hazard risk as Relatively Moderate, a comparatively low rating among the cities we track.
Personal Affordability Check
Renting at $1,047/mo in Springfield would take 26.4% of your income.
$145/mo under the 30% guideline.
Buying the median home ($198,500) would take 26.7% of your income toward principal & interest.
$53/mo under the 28% guideline.
Cost of housing in Springfield
Median home value is $198,500 and median gross rent is $1,047/month. For buyers, monthly costs depend heavily on current mortgage rates — worth checking before you commit.
FHFA's county-level home price index for Hampden rose 5.27% over the past year (as of 2025).
HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit in the surrounding county is $1,734/month.
Climate & home insurance
FEMA rates Springfield's overall natural-hazard risk as Relatively Moderate. Risk level is a major driver of home insurance premiums.
Safety
Springfield reported a violent crime rate of 870.5 per 100,000 residents in 2025, per FBI data.
Moving to Springfield
Planning a move to Springfield? Compare licensed movers and get quotes based on your origin and move date.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the cost of living in Springfield, MA?
- In Springfield, the median home value is $198,500 and median rent is $1,047 per month, against a median household income of $47,677. These figures come from the US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2022).
- How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Springfield?
- Comfortably affording rent in Springfield — where the median runs $1,047/month — typically means earning about $41,880 a year, per the standard 30%-of-income benchmark. See the full salary breakdown (renting and buying) for Springfield.
- Is it better to rent or buy in Springfield?
- Renting in Springfield at the median $1,047/month calls for about $41,880 a year under the standard 30% guideline; buying the median home at $198,500 takes roughly $45,416 a year in principal and interest (20% down, 30-year fixed, current rates). Timeline and down payment usually decide which makes more sense.
- Is Springfield safe?
- Per FBI Crime Data Explorer figures, Springfield's violent crime rate was 870.5 per 100,000 residents in 2025.
See the full salary breakdown for Springfield →
Cities with a similar cost of living
Matched on median rent and household income within 15% of Springfield's.
Median rent $1,045/mo · Median income $47,798
Salary breakdown →