Springfield vs Worcester
Compare Springfield, MA and Worcester, MA on cost, HUD rent, safety, climate, commute, schools, outdoor access, food, and source-labeled relocation data.
The verdict
Housing costs are close: ACS median rent is $1,095/mo in Springfield and $1,241/mo in Worcester, with HUD 2-bedroom benchmarks of $1,375/mo and $1,661/mo. Across the four public-data screens Springfield comes out ahead (245 vs 223 summed points), though Worcester still wins specific categories below.
Their climates screen similarly — summer highs near 82°F and 80°F respectively. If lower housing cost leads your list, start with Springfield; if walkable daily life matters more, Springfield screens stronger on the walkability proxy (29 vs 22). These are metro-level public-data screens — verify neighborhoods, school districts, commutes, and actual listings before deciding.
Category summary
Springfield leads 67 to 56 on the cost and climate screen.
Springfield leads 75 to 69 on the work screen.
Both cities are close on the daily life screen.
Springfield leads 66 to 61 on the community screen.
$85,000 in Springfield is roughly $74,375 in Worcester using WhereToThrive's cost index and state-tax adjustment.
Category comparison
| Metric | Springfield | Worcester | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACS median gross rent | $1,095/mo | $1,241/mo | Springfield |
| HUD 2BR FMR | $1,375/mo | $1,661/mo | Springfield |
| Median home value | $279,000 | $347,000 | Springfield |
| State income tax | 9% | 9% | Tie |
| Average commute | 24.9 min | 31.6 min | Springfield |
| Safety score | 68/100 | 68/100 | Tie |
| School score | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Walkability estimate | 29/100 | 22/100 | Springfield |
| Outdoor score | 6/10 | 6/10 | Tie |
| Restaurants per 100k | 107.2 | 150.0 | Worcester |
| Mountain distance | 51 mi | 11 mi | Worcester |
| Coast distance | 53 mi | 39 mi | Worcester |
What stands out
Springfield stronger signals
- Trail access within 47 miles
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 7 miles
- Named beach within 10 miles
Springfield tradeoffs
- High top marginal state income tax
Worcester stronger signals
- Public park/protected-area signal within 1 miles
- Ski location within 5 miles
- Named beach within 4 miles
- Coast access within 39 miles
Worcester tradeoffs
- High top marginal state income tax
- Cold winters
Common questions
Is Springfield cheaper than Worcester?
On public benchmarks Springfield is the cheaper metro: ACS median rent is $1,095/mo in Springfield vs $1,241/mo in Worcester; HUD 2-bedroom Fair Market Rents are $1,375/mo vs $1,661/mo; state income tax is 9% vs 9%.
Is Springfield or Worcester safer?
Springfield screens safer at the metro level: safety scores are 68/100 for Springfield and 68/100 for Worcester (FBI-reported metro rates; neighborhood variation is larger than metro averages).
Which is better for families, Springfield or Worcester?
School screens show 6/10 for Springfield vs 6/10 for Worcester, alongside the safety scores above. Both screen similarly — district-level research will matter more than the metro gap.
How different is the climate between Springfield and Worcester?
Springfield: summer highs near 82°F, winter lows near 18°F, disaster-risk band 2/3. Worcester: 80°F / 14°F, disaster-risk band 2/3 (NOAA climate normals).
Keep researching
Score this comparison with your own constraints
Public comparison pages use equal-weighted signals. The questionnaire reweights cities around your housing budget, climate preferences, work needs, family needs, and daily-life priorities.
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