Rents are 6% below what Springfield's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,822 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
April. Asking rents in Springfield usually run 0.4% below trend in April and 0.5% above it in September, about $16 a month apart at today's median. Based on 6 years of data.
Rent in Springfield is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in September 2020.
Rent in Springfield changed +7.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 89 Massachusetts cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.8%.
Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 11 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($52,656) is $1,316 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,215); a 2-bedroom is $1,510.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Springfield, 01109 ($2,091/mo), costs 37% more than the cheapest, 01103 ($1,527/mo).
Hartford, CT, 24 miles away, rents for 15% less ($1,555/mo), about $3,200 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Springfield. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Springfield, MA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 20.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Springfield, MA has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Springfield, MA stood at $1,210 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,822, reflecting a 50.6% increase over the period. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $43,308 in 2021 to $52,656 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. Renters now make up 50.4% of households, compared with 52.7% five years ago. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Springfield, MA market of 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Springfield on your salary?
At $1,822/mo, how Springfield rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Springfield rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Springfield. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Springfield
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Springfield is $1,822/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,055/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,510/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,215/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,840/mo.
At 42% of local median household income ($52,656/yr), Springfield ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Springfield rent compare to other cities in Massachusetts?
At $1,822/mo, rent takes ~42% of Springfield's median household income ($52,656/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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