City comparison
Springfield, MA vs Springfield, MO
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Springfield, MA are 8.4% higher than in Springfield, MO. Someone earning $100,000 in Springfield, MO would need about $108,400 in Springfield, MA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,382 a month in Springfield, MA versus $883 in Springfield, MO. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Springfield, MA and 14% in Springfield, MO.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,017 a year higher in Springfield, MA than in Springfield, MO.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −11.4% moving from Springfield, MA to Springfield, MO ($120,094 → $106,437), while prices change by −7.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −3.9% in real buying power.
- Springfield, MA: price level 96.1 (cheaper)
- Springfield, MO: price level 88.6 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Springfield, MA | Springfield, MO | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.1 | 88.6 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $92,217 in Springfield | $108,439 in Springfield |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,382/mo | $883/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,400 | $75,417 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,780 (MA) | $3,763 (MO) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 14% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,930 | $45,780 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Springfield, MA MSA and Springfield, MO HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Springfield, MA and Springfield, MO.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Springfield | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 75.8 | 65.6 |
| Goods | 97.0 | 94.2 |
| Utilities | 155.0 | 85.8 |
| Other services | 101.2 | 93.0 |
| Overall | 96.1 | 88.6 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Springfield, MA → Springfield, MO
Same pay goes further
Buying power +8.4%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$1,017/yr.
95 Strong offer
Springfield, MO → Springfield, MA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −7.8%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$1,017/yr.
44 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Springfield, MA is in the Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA pay area; Springfield, MO is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Springfield, MA to Springfield, MO at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Springfield, MA | Springfield, MO | Real change, Springfield → Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,642 | $61,722 | −3.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,260 | $74,678 | −3.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,992 | $89,508 | −3.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,094 | $106,437 | −3.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $141,915 | $125,776 | −3.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Springfield, MA | Springfield, MO | Springfield pay in Springfield dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,640 | $49,380 | $53,547 (−32.8%) |
| Software Developers | $127,740 | $102,350 | $110,988 (−13.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $92,010 | $73,020 | $79,182 (−13.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $98,410 | $79,370 | $86,068 (−12.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.