Wondering how far your dollar stretches in Springfield compared to Worcester? Below we break down housing costs, rent, taxes, income, and quality of life using 2026 data so you can make an informed relocation or remote-work decision. Every number is computed from Census, BLS, and Zillow data specific to these two metro areas.
| Springfield | Metric | Worcester | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 98 | Cost of Living Index | 116 | +18.4% |
| $275,000 | Median Home Price | $380,000 | +38.2% |
| $1,150 | Median Monthly Rent | $1,650 | +43.5% |
| $54,200 | Median Household Income | $71,400 | +31.7% |
| 1.1% | Property Tax Rate | 1.1% | +0.0% |
| 4.8% | Unemployment Rate | 3.6% | -25.0% |
| 24 min | Average Commute | 27 min | +12.5% |
| 37.8 | Median Age | 37 | -2.1% |
| 700,000 | Metro Population | 1,000,000 | +42.9% |
Data sourced from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024-2025). COL Index: 100 = national average.
Monthly mortgage assumes 6.5% interest, 30-year fixed, 20.0%down payment. PITI includes principal, interest, property tax, and homeowner's insurance.
Buying a home in Springfield costs $1,714/month (PITI) compared to $2,368/month in Worcester — a difference of $654/month or $7,848/year. The price-to-income ratio is 5.1x in Springfield versus 5.3x in Worcester, suggesting Springfield is relatively more affordable for homebuyers relative to local incomes. At a 15% savings rate, it takes 6.8 years to save a down payment in Springfield compared to 7.1 years in Worcester.
Estimated on each city's median household income, single filer, standard deduction, 2025 rates.
| Tax Category | Springfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Income | $54,200 | $71,400 |
| State Income Tax | $2,490 | $3,350 |
| Federal Income Tax | $4,375 | $7,157 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $4,146 | $5,462 |
| Property Tax (on median home) | $2,915/yr | $4,028/yr |
| State Sales Tax Rate | 6.3% | 6.3% |
| Total Tax Burden | $11,011 (20.3%) | $15,969 (22.4%) |
| Take-Home Pay | $43,189 | $55,431 |
On median household income, total taxes (federal + state + FICA) come to $11,011 in Springfield (20.3% effective) versus $15,969 in Worcester (22.4% effective). After taxes, take-home pay is $43,189 in Springfield and $55,431 in Worcester. Property taxes add $2,915/year on the median Springfield home versus $4,028/year in Worcester.
These figures adjust for cost of living using the formula: adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). If you earn $54,200 in Springfield (COL 98) and relocate to Worcester (COL 116), you would need $64,155 to maintain the same purchasing power. This means you would need a raise of $9,955 to maintain the same standard of living in Worcester.
Beyond costs, quality of life matters. The average commute in Springfield is 24 minutes versus 27 minutes in Worcester, a difference of 3 minutes each way. Worcester's lower unemployment rate of 3.6% versus 4.8% suggests a stronger job market. Springfield skews slightly older with a median age of 37.8 vs 37 in Worcester.
Worcester is 18.4% more expensive than Springfield overall. Worcester has a cost of living index of 116 compared to 98 for Springfield (national average = 100). The biggest difference is housing: the median home costs $380,000 in Worcester vs $275,000 in Springfield.
The median home price in Worcester is $380,000, which is $105,000 more than Springfield's median of $275,000. Monthly rent follows a similar pattern: $1,650/month in Worcester vs $1,150/month in Springfield, a difference of $500/month or $6,000/year.
To maintain the same standard of living, a $54,200 salary in Springfield is equivalent to $64,155 in Worcester. This is based on the cost of living index ratio: Springfield's COL index of 98 vs Worcester's 116. Conversely, $71,400 in Worcester equals $60,321 in Springfield.
On a median household income, the combined federal, state, and FICA tax burden is $11,011 (20.3% effective rate) in Springfield vs $15,969 (22.4% effective rate) in Worcester. Property taxes on the median home are $2,915/year in Springfield (1.1% rate) vs $4,028/year in Worcester (1.1% rate). Sales tax rates are 6.3% in Massachusetts and 6.3% in Massachusetts.
Springfield median household income: $54,200/yr. Worcester median household income: $71,400/yr (Census ACS).
Median monthly rent: $1,150 in Springfield vs $1,650 in Worcester. Annualized that is $13,800 vs $19,800.
Springfield offers a lower cost of living (index 98 vs 116), which lets remote-workers keeping a coastal salary stretch further. Worcester typically wins on amenities and labor-market depth.
Springfield and Worcester numbers are pulled from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI (home values, rent), the U.S. Census Bureau ACS (income, demographics), and BEA RPP (cost-of-living index). Each value is timestamped on the page.
Source feeds (Zillow, Freddie Mac PMMS, Census ACS, BEA RPP) are refreshed on their native cadence. Page caches revalidate every 24 hours via Next.js ISR.
No. The Springfield vs Worcester cost-of-living page is educational reference using public data and standard formulas. It is not personalized tax, legal, or investment advice. Consult a licensed professional for material decisions.
Home prices use Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI)[1]; rents use Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI)[1]. Median household income comes from the Census ACS 5-year estimates[2].
COL indices use the BEA Regional Price Parity methodology[3], normalized so 100 = national average.
Property tax rates are effective rates from the Tax Foundation[4], expressed as % of owner-occupied home value. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% fixed rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down, $1,800/yr homeowners insurance.
Federal tax calculations[6] assume single filer, standard deduction. State tax uses the top marginal rate times taxable income after the state standard deduction. FICA = 6.2% Social Security (up to wage base) + 1.45% Medicare.
Salary equivalence uses adjusted = salary × (COL_destination / COL_origin). This captures cost-of-living shift but not state income tax differences.
Unemployment figures are the most recent monthly MSA-level readings from the BLS LAUS series[7].
Last reviewed is computed from the maximum retrievedAt across every source this page consumes.
City data from Census Bureau[2], BLS[7], and Zillow[1] (2024-2025). Tax calculations use 2025 IRS rates[6], single filer, standard deduction. Mortgage estimates assume 6.5% PMMS rate[5], 30-year term, 20.0% down. COL Index: 100 = national average[3]. Last reviewed .