What it's like to live in West Springfield
West Springfield is a small city in Massachusetts with rent below the national average, 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. West Springfield deals with crime rates above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, cold winters, and snowy winters.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Short commutes
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- Crime above national average
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
- Snowy winters — 52" per year
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How West Springfield compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to West Springfield
Based on West 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
- 59% of West Springfield renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$64,300
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $32,150
- Homes cost 4.6× 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 $321,500. Not a steal, but not intimidating either.
Median home value $321,500 · 59% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.6% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.6%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 29% above US
424 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 2364/100k · West Springfield Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 26% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19.3 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 10% 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
Education & workforceNear US average
34% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 34% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
9 public schools inside the boundary
There are 9 public schools inside the boundary and 2 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12:1, 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 (4 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
West Springfield's strongest points are rent below the national average and commutes that run shorter than most cities; the main tradeoffs are crime rates above the national average and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin. A year of median rent ($1,144/mo) equals 20% of the median household income here, about the same as 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 who doesn't drive.
See all the data for West Springfield →·All Massachusetts cities →
Other places near West Springfield
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