Is it cheaper to live in Springfield or Worcester?

Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Springfield than in Worcester?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Springfield versus $41,000 in Worcester.

Which has lower taxes, Springfield or Worcester?

Springfield is taxed under Missouri's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Springfield vs Worcester Cost of Living 2026

Springfield

Missouri

$970/mo est.

Worcester

Massachusetts

$1,340/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $970 in Springfield, MO versus $1,340 in Worcester, MA. Overall, Springfield, MO is roughly 28% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Worcester, MA, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $45,984 in Springfield, MO and $67,544 in Worcester, MA — about 32% higher in Worcester, MA. Missouri has a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax; Massachusetts has a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax.

Springfield, MO

Worcester, MA

Rent

Studio

$760

$1,087

+43% in Worcester, MA

1 Bedroom

$772

$1,028

+33% in Worcester, MA

2 Bedroom

$926

$1,476

+59% in Worcester, MA

3 Bedroom

$1,158

$1,675

+45% in Worcester, MA

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$165,200

$339,500

+106% in Worcester, MA

Income

Median Household Income

$45,984

$67,544

+47% in Worcester, MA

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$45,780

$57,830

+26% in Worcester, MA

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

33.6 yr

34.1 yr

+0.5 yr in Worcester, MA

Homeownership

42.9%

42.4%

+0.5 pp in Springfield, MO

Bachelor's+ (25+)

30.3%

34.1%

+3.8 pp in Worcester, MA

Avg Commute

18.0 min

25.1 min

+7.1 min in Worcester, MA

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

1,189.8

640.2

+46% in Springfield, MO

Property Crime

4,231.6

1,580.3

+63% in Springfield, MO

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

56.3°F

47.9°F

+8.4°F in Springfield, MO

Annual Precipitation

45.6 in

48.1 in

+2.5 in in Worcester, MA

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.85/gal

$4.07/gal

+6% in Worcester, MA

Area: Midwest (PADD 2) vs Massachusetts.

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

16.2

29.6

+83% in Worcester, MA

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$28.78

$30.66

+7% in Worcester, MA

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.31

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.66

$1.92

+16% in Worcester, MA

Eggs (doz)

$3.63

$2.19

+40% in Springfield, MO

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.77

$6.90

+2% in Worcester, MA

Chicken (lb)

$2.10

$2.19

+4% in Worcester, MA

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

$0.69

+12% in Worcester, MA

Average prices — Midwest vs Northeast (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (MO / MA)

4.225%

6.25%

+2.0 pp in MA

Income Tax (top rate)

4.70%

9.00%

+4.3 pp in MA

Springfield vs Worcester — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Springfield or Worcester?: Springfield, MO is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $970 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 28% below Worcester, MA's $1,340, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Springfield than in Worcester?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $31,000 a year in Springfield versus $41,000 in Worcester.
Which has lower taxes, Springfield or Worcester?: Springfield is taxed under Missouri's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.70% and a 4.225% state sales tax); Worcester under Massachusetts's (a top state income tax rate of 9.00% and a 6.25% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).