True Cost of Renting in Springfield, MA

Springfield anchors the Pioneer Valley and is Massachusetts' most affordable major city. Amtrak's Hartford Line (Valley Flyer and Vermonter) connects to New Haven and Hartford (south) and Northampton and Greenfield (north). The city is home to major healthcare and education employers and has been working to reverse decades of economic decline.

Neighborhoods & Average Rents

Forest Park

Studio:
$900/mo
1 Bed:
$1,100/mo
2 Bed:
$1,600/mo

Springfield's most desirable residential area; proximity to Forest Park (the city's largest urban park) and the Eastern States Exposition grounds. Mix of apartment buildings and Victorian homes. Eversource electric at MA rates. PVTA bus service to Downtown.

East Springfield / Liberty Heights

Studio:
$800/mo
1 Bed:
$1,000/mo
2 Bed:
$1,400/mo

Residential neighborhoods east of downtown; primarily working-class with older housing stock. Lower rents than Forest Park. PVTA bus service. Research specific block conditions before committing.

Downtown / Sixteen Acres

Studio:
$800/mo
1 Bed:
$1,000/mo
2 Bed:
$1,400/mo

City center near the MGM Springfield casino (opened 2018), Springfield Museums, and Union Station (Amtrak). Some new mixed-use development around MGM. Downtown Springfield has improving investment but some neighborhoods require research.

Utility Providers

Electric
Eversource Energy
Water
Springfield Water and Sewer Commission
Internet
Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum, Verizon

Commute & Transportation

Springfield's Union Station serves Amtrak Hartford Line (south to Hartford 35 min, New Haven 65 min; north to Northampton 25 min, Brattleboro, VT). Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) buses serve Springfield and the surrounding Pioneer Valley. I-91 runs north-south through Springfield; I-291 and I-391 provide regional connections. Major employers: Baystate Health (Baystate Medical Center, 11,000+ employees), Springfield Technical Community College, American International College, and Smith & Wesson (now American Outdoor Brands).

Rental Market Overview

Springfield offers Massachusetts' lowest major-city rents. Eversource rates apply — the same as Springfield as in Cambridge, making utility burden proportionally higher for lower-income renters. The MGM Springfield casino (2018) has generated modest economic activity and improved some Downtown blocks. Hartford-Springfield commuters represent a real market — Amtrak service makes a Springfield-Hartford daily commute feasible. Renters insurance averages $15–22/month. The city poverty rate is high — research specific neighborhoods carefully. Massachusetts security-deposit law caps the deposit at one month rent statewide, which applies here exactly as it does in Boston.

Data last updated: 2026-04

Compare Apartments in Springfield

Enter your rental options below to see the true all-in monthly cost.

Renting in Springfield: Common Questions

What is the average rent in Springfield?
One-bedroom apartments in Springfield range from $1,000/month in East Springfield / Liberty Heights to $1,100/month in Forest Park. Two-bedroom units range from $1,400 to $1,600/month. These are base rents — add fees, utilities, and amenity costs to get the true all-in monthly cost.
What utilities do I need to set up in Springfield?
In Springfield, electricity is provided by Eversource Energy, water by Springfield Water and Sewer Commission, and common internet providers include Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum, Verizon. Ask the leasing office for the specific unit's average monthly bill rather than a city-wide figure — utility costs vary more by building age and insulation than by location within Springfield.
What neighborhoods are affordable in Springfield?
East Springfield / Liberty Heights is the most affordable of the 3 Springfield neighborhoods covered here, at $1,000/month for a one-bedroom — $100 less than Forest Park, roughly a 9% gap. That swing is often bigger than any fee or amenity difference between two buildings in the same neighborhood, which is why comparing across neighborhoods matters as much as comparing within one.
Is Springfield expensive to rent in?
Across the 3 neighborhoods covered here, the average one-bedroom in Springfield runs about $1,033/month before fees, utilities, and amenities are added — and those add-ons are exactly what a bare average hides. Springfield offers Massachusetts' lowest major-city rents. Run the specific units you are considering through RentCompare to see the true all-in monthly cost rather than relying on an area average.

Explore Other Massachusetts Cities

BostonCambridgeLowellSomervilleWorcester