City comparison
Springfield, MA vs Toledo, OH
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Springfield, MA are 5.0% higher than in Toledo, OH. Someone earning $100,000 in Toledo, OH would need about $105,000 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 $820 in Toledo, OH. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Springfield, MA and 13% in Toledo, OH.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,812 a year higher in Springfield, MA than in Toledo, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −11.4% moving from Springfield, MA to Toledo, OH ($120,094 → $106,437), while prices change by −4.8%. Net effect of the transfer: −6.9% in real buying power.
- Springfield, MA: price level 96.1 (cheaper)
- Toledo, OH: price level 91.5 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Springfield, MA | Toledo, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.1 | 91.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $95,205 in Toledo | $105,036 in Springfield |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,382/mo | $820/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,400 | $77,212 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,780 (MA) | $1,968 (OH) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 13% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,930 | $48,220 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA | Rest of U.S. |
Rent areas: Springfield, MA MSA and Toledo, OH MSA. Metro areas: Springfield, MA and Toledo, OH.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Springfield | Toledo |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 75.8 | 67.3 |
| Goods | 97.0 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 155.0 | 96.3 |
| Other services | 101.2 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 96.1 | 91.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Springfield, MA → Toledo, OH
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.0%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax −$2,812/yr.
84 Strong offer
Toledo, OH → Springfield, MA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −4.8%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$2,812/yr.
54 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Springfield, MA is in the Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA pay area; Toledo, OH is in Rest of U.S.. The last column shows what a transfer from Springfield, MA to Toledo, OH at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Springfield, MA | Toledo, OH | Real change, Springfield → Toledo |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,642 | $61,722 | −6.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,260 | $74,678 | −6.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,992 | $89,508 | −6.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,094 | $106,437 | −6.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $141,915 | $125,776 | −6.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Springfield, MA | Toledo, OH | Toledo pay in Springfield dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,640 | $63,250 | $66,435 (−16.6%) |
| Software Developers | $127,740 | $104,360 | $109,616 (−14.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $92,010 | $77,400 | $81,298 (−11.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $98,410 | $81,050 | $85,132 (−13.5%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.