What it's like to live in Springfield
Springfield is a mid-size city in Massachusetts with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and schools with smaller class sizes than the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Springfield deals with unemployment above the national average, household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, and college degree attainment below the national average.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Short commutes
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Above-average unemployment
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Low college degree attainment
- Below-average hospital ratings
- High poverty rate
How Springfield compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Springfield
Based on Springfield's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,288
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $45,760 a year
- 54% of Springfield renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$49,000
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $24,500
- Homes cost 4.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 19% below US
$1,144/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,144 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices are reasonable, with a median around $245,000. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $245,000 · 54% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▲ 60% above US
6.9% unemployment
Unemployment here is 6.9%, well above the national average of 4.3%. Moving with a job already lined up matters more here.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 164% above US
871 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 2468/100k · Springfield Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 22% below US
20 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 20.2 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 8% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 83°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 18°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
2 hospitals
There are 2 Medicare-certified hospitals inside city limits. They average 2.0 out of 5 on Medicare's star rating.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▼ 43% below US
21% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 21%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
72 public schools inside the boundary
There are 72 public schools inside the boundary and 13 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Springfield Armory National Historic Site (2 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Springfield's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are unemployment above the national average and household incomes below the national average. A year of median rent ($1,144/mo) equals 26% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone moving without a job lined up.
See all the data for Springfield →·All Massachusetts cities →
Other places near Springfield
All Massachusetts guides →Moving to Chicopee →
5 mi away · pop. 55,295
Rent $1,157/mo · Income $62,615
Compare with Springfield →Moving to Longmeadow →
5 mi away · pop. 15,696
Rent $1,682/mo · Income $149,601
Compare with Springfield →Moving to West Springfield Town →
6 mi away · pop. 28,772
Rent $1,144/mo · Income $69,371
Compare with Springfield →Not sure Springfield is the one?
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