City comparison
Indianapolis, IN vs Springfield, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Overall prices in Indianapolis, IN (95.7) and Springfield, MA (96.1, U.S. average = 100) are within 1% of each other, so $100,000 in Indianapolis, IN goes as far as $100,400 in Springfield, MA.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,382 a month in Springfield, MA versus $1,267 in Indianapolis, IN. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Springfield, MA and 20% in Indianapolis, IN.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,860 a year higher in Springfield, MA than in Indianapolis, IN.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +11.8% moving from Indianapolis, IN to Springfield, MA ($107,428 → $120,094), while prices change by +0.4%. Net effect of the transfer: +11.4% in real buying power.
- Indianapolis, IN: price level 95.7 (cheaper)
- 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
| Indianapolis, IN | Springfield, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 95.7 | 96.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $100,381 in Springfield | $99,620 in Indianapolis |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,267/mo | $1,382/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $76,260 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $2,921 (IN) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 20% | 22% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,340 | $51,930 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN | Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA |
Rent areas: Indianapolis-Carmel, IN HUD Metro FMR Area and Springfield, MA MSA. Metro areas: Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN and Springfield, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Indianapolis | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 88.9 | 75.8 |
| Goods | 94.3 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 86.4 | 155.0 |
| Other services | 99.1 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 95.7 | 96.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Indianapolis, IN → Springfield, MA
Roughly even
Buying power −0.4%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$1,860/yr.
68 Fair offer
Springfield, MA → Indianapolis, IN
Roughly even
Buying power +0.4%; rent takes 20% of take-home; state tax −$1,860/yr.
70 Fair offer
On the GS pay scale?
Indianapolis, IN is in the Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN pay area; Springfield, MA is in Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA. The last column shows what a transfer from Indianapolis, IN to Springfield, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Indianapolis, IN | Springfield, MA | Real change, Indianapolis → Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $62,297 | $69,642 | +11.4% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $75,374 | $84,260 | +11.4% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $90,341 | $100,992 | +11.4% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $107,428 | $120,094 | +11.4% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $126,947 | $141,915 | +11.4% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Indianapolis, IN | Springfield, MA | Springfield pay in Indianapolis dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $60,510 | $79,640 | $79,337 (+31.1%) |
| Software Developers | $106,870 | $127,740 | $127,255 (+19.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,290 | $92,010 | $91,660 (+15.6%) |
| Registered Nurses | $84,230 | $98,410 | $98,036 (+16.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.