Relocation profile · Federal data
Binghamton, NY
LiveAbility 58.9/100 places Binghamton #70 of 387 (top third of scored metros).
- 92.9
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,103
- 2BR rent / mo
- $70,400
- Median salary
- 58.9
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Binghamton ranks #70 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (58.9/100), with its strongest marks in schools and housing.
- #70
- of 387 US metros · Above median
- 19,867,248
- metro-area population
- 380
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 4,812
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: climate (14/100). Weigh every dimension against your own priorities, use the City Finder to re-rank by what matters to you.
According to PlainRelocate's LiveAbility composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, EPA, NOAA, and FEMA inputs), Binghamton ranks #70 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 92.9 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,103/mo, median salary $70,400; LiveAbility Score 58.9/100, strongest in schools and housing.
Signature: LiveAbility 58.9/100 places Binghamton #70 of 387 (top third of scored metros).
Purchasing power sits mid-band: BEA RPP 92.9 between corpus terciles 91.5 and 97.0. Median 2BR rent $1,103/mo.
LiveAbility 58.9/100 puts Binghamton in the top third (#70 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Binghamton area is 89,220.
Binghamton vs all US metros by LiveAbility Score
Where this metro's LiveAbility Score falls among every scored US metro (composite placement, not a desirability verdict)
59 Top 18% higher than 82% of 387 US metros
Metros banded by LiveAbility Score (0–100)
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US metros. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source PlainRelocate LiveAbility Score · June 2026
Binghamton housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Binghamton MSA; housing RPP 69.7 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,103/mo.
Binghamton wages and employment
Binghamton posts 89,220 total employment with median salary $70,400.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $38,210 |
| Registered Nurses | $101,720 |
| Retail Salespersons | $34,460 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $33,280 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $38,310 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Binghamton area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Binghamton area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Binghamton's composite Life Score is 52.1/100 (D), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Binghamton ranks #70 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 58.9/100 - a composite of 7 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data (missing dims omitted; remaining weights renormalized). Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Binghamton - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Schools
Schools
99 /100
- Housing
Housing
80 /100
- Job market
Job market
74 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
55 /100
- Safety 39
Safety
39 /100
- Low hazard 23
Low hazard
23 /100
- Climate 14
Climate
14 /100
What this shows Binghamton's strongest dimensions are schools and housing; its weakest among scored dims is climate at 14/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%; this metro uses 7 of 8 dims with renormalized weights.
Compare Binghamton to
Metros near Binghamton on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Binghamton on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Binghamton cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Binghamton wages and LiveAbility inputs follow BLS OEWS plus the federal sources listed in methodology. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Scores are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation. How this data is sourced.
Verify with BEA → · Verify with BLS → · Verify with HUD → · Verify with NOAA → · Verify with FEMA → · Verify with Census →
Thinking about Binghamton?
Binghamton runs a $70,400 median salary at a 92.9 cost index, ranking #70 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Binghamton's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Binghamton head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Binghamton
- Abilene is the closest related metro in this corpus -- see how it stacks up. Abilene profile
- A cheaper cost index and a higher LiveAbility score don't always point the same direction -- here's how to weigh the trade-off. Cost vs quality guide
Cost, salary and score figures are federal-data percentiles, not a move recommendation.