Relocation profile · Federal data
Lubbock, TX
LiveAbility 56.2/100 places Lubbock #105 of 387 (top third of scored metros).
- 91.3
- Cost index (US=100)
- $973
- 2BR rent / mo
- $57,428
- Median salary
- 56.2
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Lubbock ranks #105 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (56.2/100), with its strongest marks in air quality and housing.
- #105
- of 387 US metros · Above median
- 31,290,831
- metro-area population
- 395
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 9,061
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: low hazard (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), Lubbock ranks #105 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 91.3 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $973/mo, median salary $57,428; LiveAbility Score 56.2/100, strongest in air quality and housing.
Signature: LiveAbility 56.2/100 places Lubbock #105 of 387 (top third of scored metros).
Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 91.3 lands in the cheaper third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $973/mo.
LiveAbility 56.2/100 puts Lubbock in the top third (#105 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Lubbock area is 159,410.
Lubbock 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)
56 Top 27% higher than 73% 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
Lubbock housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Lubbock MSA; housing RPP 76.4 (100 = national average); 2BR $973/mo.
Lubbock wages and employment
Lubbock posts 159,410 total employment with median salary $57,428 against a cheaper-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $25,250 |
| Office Clerks, General | $36,940 |
| Registered Nurses | $81,480 |
| Retail Salespersons | $28,480 |
| General and Operations Managers | $80,870 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Lubbock area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Lubbock area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Lubbock's composite Life Score is 55.9/100 (C-), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Lubbock ranks #105 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 56.2/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Lubbock - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Air quality
Air quality
98 /100
- Housing
Housing
95 /100
- Climate
Climate
78 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
68 /100
- Schools
Schools
60 /100
- Safety 32
Safety
32 /100
- Job market 15
Job market
15 /100
- Low hazard 3
Low hazard
3 /100
What this shows Lubbock's strongest dimensions are air quality and housing; its weakest among scored dims is low hazard at 3/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Lubbock to
Metros near Lubbock on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Lubbock 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
Lubbock cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Lubbock 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 Lubbock?
Lubbock runs a $57,428 median salary at a 91.3 cost index, ranking #105 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Lubbock's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Lubbock head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Lubbock
- 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.