City comparison
Springfield, MA vs Worcester, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Worcester, MA are 6.7% higher than in Springfield, MA. Someone earning $100,000 in Springfield, MA would need about $106,700 in Worcester, MA to live the same way.
- Rent is the bigger story: a typical 1-bedroom costs $1,599 a month in Worcester, MA versus $1,382 in Springfield, MA. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Worcester, MA and 22% in Springfield, MA.
- Both are in MA, so estimated state income tax is the same: $4,780 a year on $100,000.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +0.4% moving from Springfield, MA to Worcester, MA ($120,094 → $120,548), while prices change by +6.7%. Net effect of the transfer: −5.9% in real buying power.
- Springfield, MA: price level 96.1 (cheaper)
- Worcester, MA: price level 102.5 (pricier)
Map drawn from Census Bureau state boundaries and metro locations9,10; dot colours show BEA price levels2.
Side by side
| Springfield, MA | Worcester, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 96.1 | 102.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $106,727 in Worcester | $93,697 in Springfield |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $1,382/mo | $1,599/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $74,400 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $4,780 (MA) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 22% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $51,930 | $57,830 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Springfield, MA MSA and Worcester, MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Springfield, MA and Worcester, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Springfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 75.8 | 113.0 |
| Goods | 97.0 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 155.0 | 155.2 |
| Other services | 101.2 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 96.1 | 102.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Springfield, MA → Worcester, MA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −6.3%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
48 Fair offer
Worcester, MA → Springfield, MA
Same pay goes further
Buying power +6.7%; rent takes 22% of take-home; state tax +$0/yr.
90 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Springfield, MA is in the Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA pay area; Worcester, MA is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Springfield, MA to Worcester, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Springfield, MA | Worcester, MA | Real change, Springfield → Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $69,642 | $69,905 | −5.9% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $84,260 | $84,579 | −5.9% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $100,992 | $101,375 | −5.9% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $120,094 | $120,548 | −5.9% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $141,915 | $142,452 | −5.9% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Springfield, MA | Worcester, MA | Worcester pay in Springfield dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $79,640 | $82,810 | $77,591 (−2.6%) |
| Software Developers | $127,740 | $146,950 | $137,688 (+7.8%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $92,010 | $94,070 | $88,141 (−4.2%) |
| Registered Nurses | $98,410 | $100,240 | $93,922 (−4.6%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.