The Springfield metro is home to 207,386 people (down 1.3% over five years), with a median household income of $74,580. Typical rent of $1,207/month works out to 19.4% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Springfield's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 28.1% |
| Public administration | 13.6% |
| Retail trade | 9.7% |
| Professional & management | 9.7% |
| Finance, insurance & real estate | 7.2% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 19.4% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Springfield market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,207/month suggests a household income around $48,000/year. The metro's median household income is $74,580.
By workforce share: Education & health care (28.1%), Public administration (13.6%), Retail trade (9.7%) (Census ACS 5-year).