PlainRelocate

Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton → Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton to Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux is less favorable: BEA regional price parity goes from 100.0 to 85.1 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent falls by $793/mo.

-$14,668
BLS median salary lower in Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux
250 to 410
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
13.6:1 to 16.8:1
NCES student-teacher ratio

BEA Regional Price Parity, HUD Fair Market Rent, BLS OEWS, FBI UCR, NCES, and DOL. The table below lets you override the composite with your own priorities.

Verdict
Less Favorable
Cost Index: 100.0 → 85.1
Rent Delta: -$793/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + 15% lower cost of living
  • + $793/mo cheaper rent (2BR)

Cons of Moving

  • - $15K lower median salary
  • - Higher violent crime rate
  • - Higher student-teacher ratios
  • - More environmental violations

Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP falls from 100.0 to 85.1, so each dollar covers more in Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux (ratio 0.85). HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent drops $793/mo ($9,516/yr) from $1,895 in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton to $1,102 in Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux.

The seven-dimension ledger splits (2 destination wins · 4 origin wins); priorities decide this move. Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux sits #247 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton is #244/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Less Favorable. Override it with the dimension table below.

BLS OEWS median salary moves $14,668 lower ($70,782 → $56,114). Labor-market size: 370,630 tracked jobs at origin vs 76,690 at destination.

State retirement friendliness is near-even: Pennsylvania 65 (C, #18/51) vs Louisiana 67 (C, #15/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 100.0
RPP 85.1
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux
Rent (2BR)
$1,895/mo
$1,102/mo
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux
Wages
$70,782
$56,114
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton
Crime
250 per 100K
410 per 100K
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton
Schools
13.6:1
16.8:1
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton
Childcare
N/A
$7,396/yr
Tie
Environment
5292 violations
14536 violations
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton

State retirement friendliness

Primary-state scores from PlainRelocate's retirement registry (tax + healthcare + climate composite). Metro pairs use each metro's primary state abbreviation.

Origin state · Pennsylvania
65 C #18/51
Income tax
95
Property tax
58
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
72
Destination state · Louisiana
67 C #15/51
Income tax
78
Property tax
79
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
8

Full retirement ranking · Source composite documented on methodology (Tax Foundation + AARP tax guides + federal healthcare/climate inputs).

Salary Adjustment Calculator

Enter your current salary in Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton to see what you'd need to earn in Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux
-
See the reverse: Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux → Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton

Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux metro profile · Livability rankings · Methodology

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA; retirement desk: Tax Foundation + AARP tax guides June 2026