PlainRelocate

Relocation profile · Federal data

Duluth, MN-WI

BEA RPP 88.8 ranks #70 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).

88.8
Cost index (US=100)
$1,232
2BR rent / mo
$70,452
Median salary
58.5
LiveAbility Score

The verdict

As of June 2026, Duluth ranks #79 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (58.5/100), with its strongest marks in cost of living and air quality.

#79
of 387 US metros · Above median
5,793,151
metro-area population
259
violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
2,391
schools in the state (NCES)

Weakest dimension: climate (3/100). 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), Duluth ranks #79 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 88.8 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,232/mo, median salary $70,452; LiveAbility Score 58.5/100, strongest in cost of living and air quality.

Signature: BEA RPP 88.8 ranks #70 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).

Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 88.8 lands in the cheaper third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,232/mo.

LiveAbility 58.5/100 puts Duluth in the top third (#79 of 387).

BLS OEWS total employment in the Duluth area is 117,960.

Duluth 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 21% higher than 79% 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

Duluth housing and rent

HUD Fair Market Rents for the Duluth MSA; housing RPP 71.1 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,232/mo.

Studio
$849
/month
1 Bedroom
$978
/month
2 Bedroom
$1,232
/month
3 Bedroom
$1,689
/month
4 Bedroom
$2,067
/month

Duluth wages and employment

Duluth posts 117,960 total employment with median salary $70,452 against a cheaper-than-average RPP.

Median Salary
$70,452
Mean Salary
$72,529
Total Employment
117,960

Top Occupations by Employment

Occupation Median Salary
Home Health and Personal Care Aides $36,390
Registered Nurses $96,940
Retail Salespersons $34,650
Cashiers $33,020
Fast Food and Counter Workers $29,260

Schools & Education

State-level education data for the Duluth area from NCES.

Schools
2,391
Enrollment
872,336
Student:Teacher
15.8:1
Title I %
0%

Childcare Costs

State-average childcare costs for the Duluth area (DOL data).

Infant (Center)
$11,722
per year
Toddler (Center)
$10,737
per year
Preschool (Center)
$9,850
per year

Life Score Breakdown

Duluth's composite Life Score is 59.2/100 (C-), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.

Cost
82/100
Elite
Wages
67/100
Strong
Rent
60/100
Above average
Crime
66/100
Strong
Schools
53/100
Average
Childcare
35/100
Below average
Environment
15/100
Bottom decile

LiveAbility Score

View full rankings →

Duluth ranks #79 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 58.5/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →

Strongest dimension: Cost of living (82/100)

Duluth - dimension scores

Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)

score

What this shows Duluth's strongest dimensions are cost of living and air quality; its weakest among scored dims is climate at 3/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.

Source BEA · BLS · HUD · FBI · NCES · EPA · NOAA · FEMA As of Federal data, latest available vintage

Compare Duluth to

Baton Rouge Battle Creek Bay City Beaumont-Port Arthur Beckley Bellingham

Metros near Duluth on cost, LiveAbility, or wages

Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Duluth on BEA RPP, LiveAbility, or BLS median salary, a different lens than the size-ranked list.

Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)

Similar LiveAbility score

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026

Duluth cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Duluth 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 Duluth?

Duluth runs a $70,452 median salary at a 88.8 cost index, ranking #79 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.

  • See exactly what Duluth's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
  • Put Duluth head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Duluth
  • 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.