City comparison
Springfield, MO vs Worcester, MA
What a paycheck is really worth in each city: prices, rent and state taxes.
Key findings
- Prices in Worcester, MA are 15.7% higher than in Springfield, MO. Someone earning $100,000 in Springfield, MO would need about $115,700 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 $883 in Springfield, MO. On $100,000, that's 26% of take-home pay in Worcester, MA and 14% in Springfield, MO.
- On $100,000, estimated state income tax is about $1,017 a year higher in Worcester, MA than in Springfield, MO.
- For federal employees, locality pay changes a GS-13 step 1 salary by +13.3% moving from Springfield, MO to Worcester, MA ($106,437 → $120,548), while prices change by +15.7%. Net effect of the transfer: −2.1% in real buying power.
- Springfield, MO: price level 88.6 (much 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, MO | Worcester, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| Price level (U.S. = 100)2 | 88.6 | 102.5 |
| $100,000 is worth, in the other city2 | $115,734 in Worcester | $86,405 in Springfield |
| Typical 1-bedroom rent3 | $883/mo | $1,599/mo |
| Take-home on $100,00014,15,8 | $75,417 | $74,400 |
| State income tax on $100,000 (estimate)8 | $3,763 (MO) | $4,780 (MA) |
| Rent burden on $100,000 | 14% | 26% |
| Median pay, all jobs4 | $45,780 | $57,830 |
| Federal locality pay area7 | Rest of U.S. | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT |
Rent areas: Springfield, MO HUD Metro FMR Area and Worcester, MA HUD Metro FMR Area. Metro areas: Springfield, MO and Worcester, MA.
What costs more or less
| Price level (U.S. = 100) | Springfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent) | 65.6 | 113.0 |
| Goods | 94.2 | 97.0 |
| Utilities | 85.8 | 155.2 |
| Other services | 93.0 | 101.2 |
| Overall | 88.6 | 102.5 |
Moving with the same $100,000 salary
Springfield, MO → Worcester, MA
Same pay buys less
Buying power −13.6%; rent takes 26% of take-home; state tax +$1,017/yr.
36 Weak offer
Worcester, MA → Springfield, MO
Same pay goes further
Buying power +15.7%; rent takes 14% of take-home; state tax −$1,017/yr.
100 Strong offer
On the GS pay scale?
Springfield, MO is in the Rest of U.S. pay area; Worcester, MA is in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. The last column shows what a transfer from Springfield, MO to Worcester, MA at the same grade and step does to real buying power.
| Grade5,2 | Springfield, MO | Worcester, MA | Real change, Springfield → Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 step 1 | $61,722 | $69,905 | −2.1% |
| GS-11 step 1 | $74,678 | $84,579 | −2.1% |
| GS-12 step 1 | $89,508 | $101,375 | −2.1% |
| GS-13 step 1 | $106,437 | $120,548 | −2.1% |
| GS-14 step 1 | $125,776 | $142,452 | −2.1% |
Pay for common jobs
| Median annual pay4 | Springfield, MO | Worcester, MA | Worcester pay in Springfield dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education | $49,380 | $82,810 | $71,552 (+44.9%) |
| Software Developers | $102,350 | $146,950 | $126,972 (+24.1%) |
| Accountants and Auditors | $73,020 | $94,070 | $81,281 (+11.3%) |
| Registered Nurses | $79,370 | $100,240 | $86,612 (+9.1%) |
"Not published" means BLS doesn't release an estimate for that job in that metro.