City comparison
Springfield, MA vs Youngstown, OH
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Springfield, MA are 9.9% higher than in Youngstown, OH. Someone earning $100,000 in Youngstown, OH would need about $109,900 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 $771 in Youngstown, OH. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Springfield, MA and 12% in Youngstown, OH.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $2,812 a year higher in Springfield, MA than in Youngstown, OH.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −7.5% moving from Springfield, MA to Youngstown, OH ($120,094 → $111,138), while prices change by −9.0%. Net effect of the transfer: +1.7% in real buying power.
- Springfield, MA: price level 96.1 (cheaper)
- Youngstown, OH: price level 87.4 (much cheaper)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Springfield, MA | Youngstown, OH | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.1 | 87.4 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $90,978 in Youngstown | $109,917 in Springfield |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,382/mo | $771/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% | 12% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,930 | $43,800 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA | Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA |
Rent areas: Springfield, MA MSA and Youngstown-Warren, OH MSA. Metro areas: Springfield, MA and Youngstown-Warren, OH.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Springfield | Youngstown |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 75.8 | 53.4 |
| Goods | 97.0 | 93.6 |
| Utilities | 155.0 | 96.3 |
| Other services | 101.2 | 98.9 |
| Overall | 96.1 | 87.4 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Springfield, MA → Youngstown, OH
Same pay goes further
Buying power +9.9%; rent takes 12% of take-home; state tax −$2,812/yr.
100 Strong offer
Youngstown, OH → Springfield, MA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −9.0%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$2,812/yr.
41 Weak offer
On the GS pay scale?
Springfield, MA is in the Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA pay area; Youngstown, OH is in Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA. The last column shows what a transfer from Springfield, MA to Youngstown, OH at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Springfield, MA | Youngstown, OH | Real change, Springfield → Youngstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,642 | $64,448 | +1.7% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,260 | $77,977 | +1.7% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,992 | $93,461 | +1.7% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,094 | $111,138 | +1.7% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $141,915 | $131,331 | +1.7% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Springfield, MA | Youngstown, OH | Youngstown pay in Springfield dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,640 | $72,560 | $79,756 (+0.1%) |
| Software Developers | $127,740 | $107,990 | $118,700 (−7.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $92,010 | $73,080 | $80,327 (−12.7%) |
| Registered Nurses | $98,410 | $78,680 | $86,483 (−12.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.