Indianapolis vs Springfield
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $224,800 in Indianapolis and $245,000 in Springfield.
- Households earn more in Indianapolis ($66,219 vs $52,656 median).
- Springfield gets far more snow: 52 inches a year vs 26.
- Indianapolis is growing faster: +1.5% since 2020 vs -0.8%.
- Commutes are shorter in Springfield (20 vs 25 minutes each way).
Side by side
| Indianapolis, IN | Springfield, MA | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 901,116 | 154,702 |
| Growth since 2020 | +1.5% | -0.8% |
| People per square mile | 2,496 | 4,854 |
| Median age | 34.3 | 33.7 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35% | 21% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $66,219 | $52,656 |
| Median home value | $224,800 | $245,000 |
| Home value to income | 3.4× | 4.7× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,156 | $1,144 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 95.7 | 96.1 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 88.9 | 75.8 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $71,800 | $72,000 |
| Homeowners | 56% | 50% |
| Top state income tax | 2.95% | 9% |
| Combined sales tax | 7% | 6.25% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 24.6 | 20.2 |
| Work from home | 14% | 8% |
| Take public transit | 1% | 3% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 5.1% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.8% | 25.8% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 36° / 21° | 35° / 19° |
| July high / low | 85° / 66° | 85° / 63° |
| Precipitation per year | 44 in | 47 in |
| Snowfall per year | 26 in | 52 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 20 | 20 |
| Nights below freezing | 105 | 126 |
| Comfortable months | 5 | 5 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively High | Relatively Moderate |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 97.5 | 92.8 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 38% | 76% |
| Home prices, past year | +3.5% | +4.4% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +43.8% | +44.3% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Indianapolis: April and July to October. Springfield: May to September.
Full monthly tables: Indianapolis weather by month and Springfield weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $71,800 in Indianapolis and $72,000 in Springfield. Moving from Indianapolis to Springfield, you would need about $75,300 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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