City comparison
Allentown, PA vs Springfield, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Allentown, PA are 4.1% higher than in Springfield, MA. Someone earning $100,000 in Springfield, MA would need about $104,100 in Allentown, PA to live the same way.
- Typical 1-bedroom rents are close: $1,341 a month in Allentown, PA and $1,382 in Springfield, MA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,710 a year higher in Springfield, MA than in Allentown, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −4.3% moving from Allentown, PA to Springfield, MA ($125,431 → $120,094), while prices change by −3.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −0.4% in real buying power.
- Allentown, PA: price level 100.0 (about average)
- Springfield, MA: price level 96.1 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Allentown, PA | Springfield, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 100.0 | 96.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $96,092 in Springfield | $104,067 in Allentown |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,341/mo | $1,382/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,110 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,070 (PA) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 21% | 22% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $48,990 | $51,930 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA |
Rent areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA HUD Metro FMR Area and Springfield, MA MSA. Metro areas: Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ and Springfield, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Allentown | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 105.5 | 75.8 |
| Goods | 100.6 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 107.6 | 155.0 |
| Other services | 97.8 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 100.0 | 96.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Allentown, PA → Springfield, MA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +4.1%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$1,710/yr.
81 Strong offer
Springfield, MA → Allentown, PA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.9%; rent takes 21% of take-home; state tax −$1,710/yr.
57 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Allentown, PA is in the New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA pay area; Springfield, MA is in Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA. The last column shows what a transfer from Allentown, PA to Springfield, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Allentown, PA | Springfield, MA | Real change, Allentown → Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $72,737 | $69,642 | −0.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $88,005 | $84,260 | −0.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $105,481 | $100,992 | −0.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $125,431 | $120,094 | −0.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $148,222 | $141,915 | −0.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Allentown, PA | Springfield, MA | Springfield pay in Allentown dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,040 | $79,640 | $82,879 (+4.9%) |
| Software Developers | $122,930 | $127,740 | $132,935 (+8.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $78,430 | $92,010 | $95,752 (+22.1%) |
| Registered Nurses | $101,440 | $98,410 | $102,413 (+1.0%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.