SalaryCompareTool

Springfield, MA vs Detroit, MI

Moving from Springfield to Detroit? Here's what changes — from your equivalent salary to housing ($376,017 → $269,080 median home) and taxes.

Springfield vs Detroit at a glance

Bars scaled to the range across all 200 metros; labels show actual values.

Springfield, MA Detroit, MI Cost-of-living index Springfield, MA — Cost-of-living index: 98 98 Detroit, MI — Cost-of-living index: 98 98 Median home price Springfield, MA — Median home price: $376k $376k Detroit, MI — Median home price: $269k $269k Price per sqft Springfield, MA — Price per sqft: $221 $221 Detroit, MI — Price per sqft: $163 $163 Median rent Springfield, MA — Median rent: $1,941 $1,941 Detroit, MI — Median rent: $1,500 $1,500 Combined sales tax Springfield, MA — Combined sales tax: 6.3% 6.3% Detroit, MI — Combined sales tax: 6.0% 6.0% Property tax rate Springfield, MA — Property tax rate: 1.59% 1.59% Detroit, MI — Property tax rate: 1.43% 1.43% Violent crime /100k Springfield, MA — Violent crime /100k: 330 330 Detroit, MI — Violent crime /100k: 460 460 Electricity ¢/kWh Springfield, MA — Electricity ¢/kWh: 29.4 29.4 Detroit, MI — Electricity ¢/kWh: 21.4 21.4 Avg commute (min) Springfield, MA — Avg commute (min): 23 23 Detroit, MI — Avg commute (min): 27 27 Avg summer high °F Springfield, MA — Avg summer high °F: 82° 82° Detroit, MI — Avg summer high °F: 83° 83° Avg winter low °F Springfield, MA — Avg winter low °F: 22° 22° Detroit, MI — Avg winter low °F: 16° 16°

To keep the same standard of living as $100,000 in Springfield, MA, you'd need about $100,121 in Detroit, MI (+$121).

Livability — Springfield, MA: 60 · Detroit, MI: 62 (0–100).

What your home budget buys

A $500,000 home budget gets you about 2,260 sqft in Springfield vs 3,066 sqft in Detroit ($221 vs $163 per sqft).

Annual cost breakdown (at $100,000)

CategorySpringfield, MADetroit, MIDifference
Housing $23,292 $18,000 −$5,292
Groceries $4,938 $4,896 −$41
Transportation $3,210 $4,575 +$1,365
Utilities $3,180 $2,316 −$864
Insurance $1,800 $1,300 −$500
Taxes $15,617 $9,547 −$6,069
Total $52,036 $40,634 −$11,402

Side by side

MetricSpringfield, MADetroit, MI
Cost-of-living index98.198.2
Unemployment rate5.93%6.60%
Population growth (5-yr)9.4%1.7%
Air quality (median AQI)3855
Big Mac price (est.)$5.58$5.59
Median home price$376,017$269,080
Home price ÷ income5.3×3.7×
1-yr home appreciation2.7%2.8%
Price per square foot$221$163
Median rent$1,941$1,500
Total tax burden (% income)11.5%10.0%
Combined sales tax6.25%6.00%
Capital gains tax9.00%4.25%
Property tax rate1.59%1.43%
Healthcare (annual)$8,200$6,500
Childcare (annual, infant)$21,000$11,000
Vehicle property tax2.25%0.61%
Avg commute (min)2327
Home insurance / yr$1,800$1,300
Auto insurance / yr$1,500$2,700
Flood insurance / yr$800$600
Earthquake insurance / yr$100$100
Electricity ¢/kWh29.421.4
Gas $/gal3.303.35
Violent crime /100k330460
Avg summer high °F8283
Avg winter low °F2216
Permit difficulty (1–5)43

Ad · affiliate links