PlainRelocate
Relocation Guides
Make data-driven relocation decisions using federal data, how PlainRelocate combines BEA cost of living, HUD rent, FBI crime, BLS wages, NCES schools, DOL childcare, and EPA air quality to help you evaluate and compare US metros before you move.
- 387
- US metros covered
- 7
- Guides
- 7
- Federal data sources
How Relocation Data Works
The seven federal databases PlainRelocate combines and what each one reveals about a potential destination.
Understanding Cost of Living Data
What BEA Regional Price Parities actually measure, and how to use them without being misled.
Cost of Living vs Quality of Life
Why salary alone doesn't determine financial wellbeing, and how to calculate real purchasing power across metros.
Finding Your Ideal Metro
A step-by-step process for narrowing every US metro to a shortlist that matches your priorities.
Best Cities for Remote Workers
A cross-database ranking of metros on affordability, air quality, and safety, built for location-independent work.
Cheapest Places with Good Schools
Where low cost of living and above-average school quality overlap, the best value for families.
Evaluating School Quality by Metro
What NCES education data reveals about metro school systems, and what it cannot.
Methodology
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, HUD, FBI, Bureau of Labor Statistics, NCES, Department of Labor, and EPA, these seven guides draw every statistic directly from official federal datasets and publications, with sources clearly referenced throughout.
We present complex government data in plain language as of the May 2026 data vintage. When methodologies differ between data sources or change over time, we note these variations inline; see our full methodology for the source list, refresh cadence, and known limitations.