City comparison
Springfield, MA vs Visalia, CA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Visalia, CA are 3.9% higher than in Springfield, MA. Someone earning $100,000 in Springfield, MA would need about $103,900 in Visalia, CA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,382 a month in Springfield, MA versus $1,123 in Visalia, CA. On $100,000, that's 22% of take-home pay in Springfield, MA and 18% in Visalia, CA.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $290 a year higher in Visalia, CA than in Springfield, MA.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by −10.9% moving from Springfield, MA to Visalia, CA ($120,094 → $106,973), while prices change by +3.9%. Net effect of the transfer: −14.3% in real buying power.
- Springfield, MA: price level 96.1 (cheaper)
- Visalia, CA: price level 99.8 (about average)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Springfield, MA | Visalia, CA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.1 | 99.8 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $103,918 in Visalia | $96,229 in Springfield |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,382/mo | $1,123/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,400 | $74,110 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,780 (MA) | $5,070 (CA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 18% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,930 | $45,130 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA |
Rent areas: Springfield, MA MSA and Visalia, CA MSA. Metro areas: Springfield, MA and Visalia, CA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Springfield | Visalia |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 75.8 | 84.1 |
| Goods | 97.0 | 105.2 |
| Utilities | 155.0 | 156.4 |
| Other services | 101.2 | 100.3 |
| Overall | 96.1 | 99.8 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Springfield, MA → Visalia, CA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −3.8%; rent takes 18% of take-home; state tax +$290/yr.
57 Fair offer
Visalia, CA → Springfield, MA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +3.9%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax −$290/yr.
81 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Springfield, MA is in the Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA pay area; Visalia, CA is in Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA. The last column shows what a transfer from Springfield, MA to Visalia, CA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Springfield, MA | Visalia, CA | Real change, Springfield → Visalia |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,642 | $62,033 | −14.3% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,260 | $75,055 | −14.3% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,992 | $89,959 | −14.3% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,094 | $106,973 | −14.3% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $141,915 | $126,410 | −14.3% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Springfield, MA | Visalia, CA | Visalia pay in Springfield dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,640 | $98,430 | $94,719 (+18.9%) |
| Software Developers | $127,740 | $126,170 | $121,413 (−5.0%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $92,010 | $79,400 | $76,406 (−17.0%) |
| Registered Nurses | $98,410 | $125,180 | $120,460 (+22.4%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.