The Springfield metro is home to 462,853 people (down 26.6% over five years), with a median household income of $70,535. Typical rent of $1,963/month works out to 33.4% of the median household income — above the 30% affordability threshold, a strain signal (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Springfield's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 31.1% |
| Manufacturing | 11.0% |
| Retail trade | 10.8% |
| Professional & management | 8.2% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 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 33.4% of median income leave little headroom — expect tenant price sensitivity. 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 $1,963/month suggests a household income around $79,000/year. The metro's median household income is $70,535.
By workforce share: Education & health care (31.1%), Manufacturing (11.0%), Retail trade (10.8%) (Census ACS 5-year).