The Town FilesSpringfield, Massachusetts
City in Hampden County · population 155,929 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $245,000
- Household income
- $52,656
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 46 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 20
- Median age
- 33.7
Springfield is a city of 155,929 people in Hampden County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $245,000, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks more walkable than 95% of Massachusetts towns, more vibrant than 95% of Massachusetts towns, better for first-time buyers than 80% of Massachusetts towns.
How Springfield ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Springfield is worth $245,000, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 4.7 times the median household income of $52,656, which is more affordable than 46% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,144 a month. 49.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Springfield | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $245,000 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,144 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $52,656 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.7× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 49.6% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.2% | — |
Who lives in Springfield
| People | Springfield | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.7 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 13.2% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.5% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.8% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 3.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.5% | — |
| Work from home | 8.4% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 20.2 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.0% | 93.9% |
Weather in Springfield
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 15.5°F. About 45.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 45.9 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 144 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Springfield since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on October 3, 1979 about 9.4 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 6 deaths and 702 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 18, 2021.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 47 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 26, 2011.
Severe weather in Hampden County since 1996
Hampden County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| April 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4110: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3350: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Hampden County
Hampden County had 202,129 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,834 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Springfield itself the ACS puts it at 8.7%.
Public schools in Springfield
70 public schools with 26,824 students, about 11.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield Central High | 9-12 | 2,042 | 12.4 |
| Springfield International Charter School (charter) | K-12 | 1,478 | 18.7 |
| Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy | 9-12 | 1,383 | 11.3 |
| Springfield High School of Science and Technology | 9-12 | 1,097 | 11.9 |
| High School Of Commerce | 9-12 | 1,060 | 9.0 |
| John J Duggan Academy | 6-12 | 831 | 10.9 |
| German Gerena Community School | PK-5 | 623 | 11.3 |
| Veritas Preparatory Charter School (charter) | 5-10 | 615 | 9.6 |
| The Springfield Renaissance School an Expeditionary Learning | 6-12 | 609 | 12.7 |
| Rebecca M Johnson | PK-5 | 595 | 10.6 |
| Edward P. Boland School | PK-5 | 554 | 11.8 |
| Libertas Academy Charter School (charter) | 6-11 | 519 | 9.8 |
Towns near Springfield
- East Longmeadow, MA4.2 mi · 16,430 people · home $376,800
- Chicopee, MA4.6 mi · 55,560 people · home $274,500
- Longmeadow, MA4.9 mi · 15,853 people · home $454,100
- Wilbraham, MA5.3 mi · 4,003 people · home $400,300
- Wilbraham, MA5.6 mi · 14,613 people · home $416,000
- West Springfield Town, MA5.7 mi · 28,835 people · home $321,500
- Ludlow, MA6.3 mi · 21,002 people · home $335,300
- Agawam Town, MA6.8 mi · 28,692 people · home $311,600
Springfield questions
Is Springfield, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Springfield scores better for retirees than 0% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 3%. 13.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.7).
How much does a house cost in Springfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Springfield is valued at $245,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $52,656, so homes cost about 4.7 times income. Median rent is $1,144 a month.
What is the weather like in Springfield?
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 15.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.2 inches of precipitation a year and 45.9 inches of snow.
Does Springfield get tornadoes?
20 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Springfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on October 3, 1979. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)