City comparison
Peoria, IL vs Springfield, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Springfield, MA are 5.3% higher than in Peoria, IL. Someone earning $100,000 in Peoria, IL would need about $105,300 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 $818 in Peoria, IL. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Springfield, MA and 13% in Peoria, IL.
- Estimated state income tax on $100,000 is close: $4,805 a year in IL and $4,780 in MA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +12.8% moving from Peoria, IL to Springfield, MA ($106,437 → $120,094), while prices change by +5.3%. Net effect of the transfer: +7.2% in real buying power.
- Peoria, IL: price level 91.2 (much 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
| Peoria, IL | Springfield, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 91.2 | 96.1 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $105,294 in Springfield | $94,972 in Peoria |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $818/mo | $1,382/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,375 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,805 (IL) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 13% | 22% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $49,590 | $51,930 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA |
Rent areas: Peoria, IL MSA and Springfield, MA MSA. Metro areas: Peoria, IL and Springfield, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Peoria | Springfield |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 63.8 | 75.8 |
| Goods | 93.6 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 90.5 | 155.0 |
| Other services | 99.6 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 91.2 | 96.1 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Peoria, IL → Springfield, MA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −5.0%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax −$25/yr.
53 Fair offer
Springfield, MA → Peoria, IL
Same pay goes further
Buying power +5.3%; rent takes 13% of take-home; state tax +$25/yr.
85 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Peoria, IL is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Springfield, MA is in Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA. The last column shows what a transfer from Peoria, IL to Springfield, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Peoria, IL | Springfield, MA | Real change, Peoria → Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $69,642 | +7.2% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $84,260 | +7.2% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $100,992 | +7.2% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $120,094 | +7.2% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $141,915 | +7.2% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Peoria, IL | Springfield, MA | Springfield pay in Peoria dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $57,440 | $79,640 | $75,636 (+31.7%) |
| Software Developers | $130,590 | $127,740 | $121,317 (−7.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $79,540 | $92,010 | $87,384 (+9.9%) |
| Registered Nurses | $81,010 | $98,410 | $93,462 (+15.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.