Relocation profile · Federal data
Hammond, LA
BEA RPP 84.5 ranks #6 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).
- 84.5
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,099
- 2BR rent / mo
- $55,386
- Median salary
- 46.9
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Hammond ranks #261 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (46.9/100), with its strongest marks in cost of living and housing.
- #261
- of 387 US metros · Near median
- 4,597,740
- metro-area population
- 410
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 1,330
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: job market (2/100). 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), Hammond ranks #261 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 84.5 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,099/mo, median salary $55,386; LiveAbility Score 46.9/100, strongest in cost of living and housing.
Signature: BEA RPP 84.5 ranks #6 of 387 scored metros for lower prices (cheaper third).
Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 84.5 lands in the cheaper third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,099/mo.
LiveAbility 46.9/100 puts Hammond in the bottom third (#261 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Hammond area is 41,250.
Hammond 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)
47 Top 67% higher than 33% 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
Hammond housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Hammond MSA; housing RPP 48.2 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,099/mo.
Hammond wages and employment
Hammond posts 41,250 total employment with median salary $55,386 against a cheaper-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $21,980 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $22,350 |
| Cashiers | $25,500 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $35,570 |
| Retail Salespersons | $28,570 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Hammond area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Hammond area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Hammond's composite Life Score is 63.6/100 (C), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Hammond ranks #261 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 46.9/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Hammond - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Cost of living
Cost of living
99 /100
- Housing
Housing
82 /100
- Low hazard
Low hazard
49 /100
- Climate
Climate
47 /100
- Air quality 32
Air quality
32 /100
- Safety 28
Safety
28 /100
- Schools 11
Schools
11 /100
- Job market 2
Job market
2 /100
What this shows Hammond's strongest dimensions are cost of living and housing; its weakest among scored dims is job market at 2/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Hammond to
Metros near Hammond on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Hammond 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
Hammond cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Hammond 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 Hammond?
Hammond runs a $55,386 median salary at a 84.5 cost index, ranking #261 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Hammond's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Hammond head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Hammond
- 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.