Springfield Apartments and Rentals

Springfield, Mass., is the seat of Hampden County and has a number of nicknames, including "City of Firsts" and "City of Homes." The community is known as "City of Homes" because Springfield apartments for rent can be found in abundant quantities, ranging from historic homes to contemporary housing.

Springfield is only a 30-minute drive away from Hartford, Conn., and the Massachusetts city of Northampton. Bradley International Airport is nearby, allowing easy and convenient travel to destinations around the world. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that Springfield's population as of July 2011 was 153,155 people, encompassing nearly 32 square miles of land. Numerous opportunities await in Springfield, as the city includes abundant green space, many cultural attractions including museums and symphonies, and a diverse population who speaks more than 40 different languages.

Springfield was established in 1636 as a trading and fur-collecting post, and it was incorporated in 1641, officially becoming a city in 1852. Springfield is a midway point between both New York and Boston, and New York and Canada, which contributed substantially to Springfield's economic success and growth.

The city of Springfield website explains that Springfield is typically divided up into 17 distinct neighborhoods, including the Forest Park neighborhood, Sixteen Acres, Old Hill and South End, to name a few. The Forest Park neighborhood is located approximately one mile from Springfield's central business district, making this area a popular choice for business professionals looking to live in Springfield apartments. The Sixteen Acres neighborhood is the largest in the city, comprised of 4,506 acres with road and water access.

Business professionals may find Springfield apartments to be an attractive option as the city continues expansion in its business sector. City-Data information indicated that the top companies that are headquartered in Springfield include Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co., Merriam-Webster Inc., Smith & Wesson Corp and the retail food company Big Y Foods Inc. Springfield's fastest-growing service sectors are healthcare and education, and manufacturing remains one of the anchors of the Springfield economy.

Students have many higher education facilities to take advantage of in Springfield, including Springfield College, Western New England University, American International College and Springfield Technical Community College. Springfield College enrolls more than 5,000 students from around the world, while Western New England University enrolls roughly 3,770 undergraduate and graduate students.

According to data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau, Springfield rentals have a vacancy rate of 7.9 percent, and the median rent was $737 in 2010. Roughly 27.3 percent of all renters fall in the gross rent range of $750 to $999, with more than half of all renters falling in the wider gross rent range of $500 to $999. The data further indicated that nearly half of all renters reported spending 35 percent or more of their household income on gross rental costs.

City-Data information revealed that in March 2012, the cost of living in Springfield was assigned a value of 119.6 points, which is nearly 20 percent more than the national average of 100 points.

People living in Springfield apartments have access to a wide array of area attractions, and the city of Springfield website maintains that diversity in culture, restaurants, entertainment and ethnic events is the norm for this thriving community.

One popular area attraction for families and children is the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden at the Springfield Museums. This city is famous for being the birthplace of Theodor Seuss Geisel, and so it seems a rather fitting place for a memorial, as Springfield appears to have inspired a large portion of his work.

Another popular area attraction is the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The landmark building that houses the Hall of Fame makes a distinct impression on the Springfield skyline and is an appropriate shrine to the game that shaped American culture. The Hall of Fame has nearly 300 inductees, 40,000 square feet of space dedicated to basketball history and hundreds of interactive exhibits.

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