Relocation profile · Federal data
Kingston, NY
LiveAbility 39.3/100 places Kingston #330 of 387 (bottom third of scored metros).
- 100.7
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,818
- 2BR rent / mo
- $66,733
- Median salary
- 39.3
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Kingston ranks #330 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (39.3/100), with its strongest marks in schools and job market.
- #330
- of 387 US metros · Below median
- 19,867,248
- metro-area population
- 380
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 4,812
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: housing (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), Kingston ranks #330 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 100.7 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,818/mo, median salary $66,733; LiveAbility Score 39.3/100, strongest in schools and job market.
Signature: LiveAbility 39.3/100 places Kingston #330 of 387 (bottom third of scored metros).
Purchasing power tightens: BEA RPP 100.7 lands in the dearer third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,818/mo.
LiveAbility 39.3/100 puts Kingston in the bottom third (#330 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Kingston area is 52,520.
Kingston 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)
39 Top 85% higher than 15% 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
Kingston housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Kingston MSA; housing RPP 110.2 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,818/mo.
Kingston wages and employment
Kingston posts 52,520 total employment with median salary $66,733 against a dearer-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $37,750 |
| Retail Salespersons | $36,530 |
| Cashiers | $34,770 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $35,460 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,910 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Kingston area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Kingston area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Kingston's composite Life Score is 33.3/100 (F), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Kingston ranks #330 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 39.3/100 - 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 →
Kingston - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Schools
Schools
96 /100
- Job market
Job market
66 /100
- Safety 38
Safety
38 /100
- Low hazard 22
Low hazard
22 /100
- Climate 22
Climate
22 /100
- Cost of living 19
Cost of living
19 /100
- Housing 14
Housing
14 /100
What this shows Kingston's strongest dimensions are schools and job market; its weakest among scored dims is housing 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 Kingston to
Metros near Kingston on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Kingston 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
Kingston cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Kingston 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 Kingston?
Kingston runs a $66,733 median salary at a 100.7 cost index, ranking #330 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Kingston's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Kingston head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Kingston
- 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.