City comparison
Springfield, MA vs York, PA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Springfield, MA (96.1) and York, PA (96.0, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Springfield, MA goes as far as $99,900 in York, PA.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,382 a month in Springfield, MA versus $1,060 in York, PA. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Springfield, MA and 17% in York, PA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,710 a year higher in Springfield, MA than in York, PA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +1.4% moving from Springfield, MA to York, PA ($120,094 → $121,785), while prices change by −0.1%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.5% in real buying power.
- Springfield, MA: price level 96.1 (cheaper)
- York, PA: price level 96.0 (cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Springfield, MA | York, PA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.1 | 96.0 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $99,936 in York | $100,064 in Springfield |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,382/mo | $1,060/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,400 | $76,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,780 (MA) | $3,070 (PA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 17% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,930 | $48,170 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA |
Rent areas: Springfield, MA MSA and York-Hanover, PA MSA. Metro areas: Springfield, MA and York-Hanover, PA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Springfield | York |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 75.8 | 79.8 |
| Goods | 97.0 | 100.7 |
| Utilities | 155.0 | 107.0 |
| Other services | 101.2 | 97.7 |
| Overall | 96.1 | 96.0 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Springfield, MA → York, PA
Roughly even
Buying power +0.1%; rent takes 17% of take-home; state tax −$1,710/yr.
69 Fair offer
York, PA → Springfield, MA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.1%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$1,710/yr.
69 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Springfield, MA is in the Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA pay area; York, PA is in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Springfield, MA to York, PA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Springfield, MA | York, PA | Real change, Springfield → York |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,642 | $70,623 | +1.5% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,260 | $85,447 | +1.5% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,992 | $102,415 | +1.5% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,094 | $121,785 | +1.5% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $141,915 | $143,913 | +1.5% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Springfield, MA | York, PA | York pay in Springfield dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,640 | $79,730 | $79,781 (+0.2%) |
| Software Developers | $127,740 | $114,600 | $114,673 (−10.2%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $92,010 | $75,160 | $75,208 (−18.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $98,410 | $96,210 | $96,271 (−2.2%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.