Relocation profile · Federal data
Lynchburg, VA
LiveAbility 64.9/100 places Lynchburg #16 of 387 (top third of scored metros).
- 89.4
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,187
- 2BR rent / mo
- $60,748
- Median salary
- 64.9
- LiveAbility Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Lynchburg ranks #16 of 387 US metros on the LiveAbility Score (64.9/100), with its strongest marks in air quality and safety.
- #16
- of 387 US metros · Excellent
- 8,811,195
- metro-area population
- 223
- violent crimes per 100K (state-level)
- 1,869
- schools in the state (NCES)
Weakest dimension: low hazard (17/100). 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), Lynchburg ranks #16 of 387 scored US metros by LiveAbility Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 89.4 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,187/mo, median salary $60,748; LiveAbility Score 64.9/100, strongest in air quality and safety.
Signature: LiveAbility 64.9/100 places Lynchburg #16 of 387 (top third of scored metros).
Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP 89.4 lands in the cheaper third of scored metros (cuts at 91.5 / 97.0). Median 2BR rent $1,187/mo.
LiveAbility 64.9/100 puts Lynchburg in the top third (#16 of 387).
BLS OEWS total employment in the Lynchburg area is 88,410.
Lynchburg 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)
65 Top 4% higher than 96% 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
Lynchburg housing and rent
HUD Fair Market Rents for the Lynchburg MSA; housing RPP 63.9 (100 = national average); 2BR $1,187/mo.
Lynchburg wages and employment
Lynchburg posts 88,410 total employment with median salary $60,748 against a cheaper-than-average RPP.
Top Occupations by Employment
| Occupation | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $28,220 |
| Retail Salespersons | $30,570 |
| Cashiers | $28,390 |
| Registered Nurses | $80,450 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $27,810 |
Schools & Education
State-level education data for the Lynchburg area from NCES.
Childcare Costs
State-average childcare costs for the Lynchburg area (DOL data).
Life Score Breakdown
Lynchburg's composite Life Score is 58.5/100 (C-), computed across 7 of 7 dimensions.
LiveAbility Score
View full rankings →Lynchburg ranks #16 out of 387 metros with a LiveAbility Score of 64.9/100 - a composite of 8 of 8 quality-of-life dimensions from federal data. Customize the weights to match your priorities →
Lynchburg - dimension scores
Percentile vs all US metros (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Air quality
Air quality
96 /100
- Safety
Safety
80 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
78 /100
- Schools
Schools
76 /100
- Housing
Housing
66 /100
- Climate
Climate
58 /100
- Job market
Job market
43 /100
- Low hazard 17
Low hazard
17 /100
What this shows Lynchburg's strongest dimensions are air quality and safety; its weakest among scored dims is low hazard at 17/100. Default weights: cost 18%, jobs & housing 15% each, safety & schools 12%, air & hazard 10%, climate 8%.
Compare Lynchburg to
Metros near Lynchburg on cost, LiveAbility, or wages
Nearest out-of-state neighbors to Lynchburg 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
Lynchburg cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Lynchburg 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 Lynchburg?
Lynchburg runs a $60,748 median salary at a 89.4 cost index, ranking #16 of 387 nationally on LiveAbility.
- See exactly what Lynchburg's pay and cost figures mean for your own budget. Salary calculator
- Put Lynchburg head-to-head against another city on the same dimensions. Compare Lynchburg
- 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.