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Living in Springfield, MA

Mid-size city in Massachusetts

Springfield is a mid-size city in Massachusetts, home to about 155,000 people, with 935,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, much of daily life is walkable. Life moves at a fast pace, and homes are mostly apartments.

Is Springfield a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Easy flying: BDL is 14 mi away
  • Low natural disaster risk: 8 federally declared disasters since 2000
  • Mild summers: highs around 83°F
  • Strong healthcare: 3 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi

👎 Cons

  • Higher taxes: about $3,502 state income tax per resident, 1.6% property tax
  • Cloudier than most places
  • Few dog parks: 3 within 9 mi
  • Fewer graduates: 20% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Springfield ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
155,000
935,000 within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
38°F / 83°F
Average daily highs · 52″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$307k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$2,130/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
96
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$3,502
State income tax per resident · 1.6% property tax
Safety
2.4× US
Violent crime vs US (FBI 2019)
Natural disasters
8 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding, hurricanes
Top-rated hospitals
3
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
20%
2 research universities within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
BDL
14 mi away

Living in Springfield: common questions

What is the cost of living in Springfield?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $307k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,130 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 96, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Springfield?

Massachusetts collects about $3,502 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 1.6% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Springfield safe?

Violent crime is well above the national rate (2.4× in FBI 2019 data).

What is the weather like in Springfield?

Springfield has cold winters: winter days average around 38°F and summer days around 83°F, with roughly 52″ of snow a year.

Does Springfield get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding and hurricanes: 8 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.2 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Springfield?

The nearest major airport is BDL, about 14 mi away.

How Springfield scores

Each bar compares Springfield with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Mid-size Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Urban Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Mostly walkable Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Culture & nature Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Cold winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Affordable Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Fast-paced Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Some community feel AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Mostly apartments ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Good
💸Low taxes Poor
💼Job market Below average
🏥Healthcare Excellent
🎓Education Below average
🧸Kids & family Below average
🐕Dog-friendly Poor
⛰️Outdoors Average
🎭Culture Good
🛡️Safety Higher crime
🌪️Few natural disasters Excellent
☀️Sunny Poor
🌤️Mild summers Excellent
✈️Airport Excellent

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Is Springfield right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

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Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.