Baltimore-Columbia-Towson Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from Baltimore-Columbia-Towson to Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers is less favorable: BEA regional price parity goes from 104.5 to 91.4 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent falls by $510/mo.

-$18,539
BLS median salary lower in Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers
425 to 580
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
14.5:1 to 13.6:1
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: 104.5 → 91.4
Rent Delta: -$510/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + 13% lower cost of living
  • + $510/mo cheaper rent (2BR)

Cons of Moving

  • - $19K lower median salary
  • - Higher violent crime rate
  • - More environmental violations

Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP falls from 104.5 to 91.4, so each dollar covers more in Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers (ratio 0.87). HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent drops $510/mo ($6,120/yr) from $1,857 in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson to $1,347 in Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers.

The seven-dimension ledger splits (3 destination wins · 3 origin wins); priorities decide this move. Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers sits #157 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). Baltimore-Columbia-Towson is #287/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Less Favorable. Override it with the dimension table below.

BLS OEWS median salary moves $18,539 lower ($78,184 → $59,645). Labor-market size: 1,317,590 tracked jobs at origin vs 257,840 at destination.

State retirement friendliness favors the destination: Arkansas scores 74 (B, #6/51) vs Maryland at 46 (F, #45/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 104.5
RPP 91.4
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers
Rent (2BR)
$1,857/mo
$1,347/mo
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers
Wages
$78,184
$59,645
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson
Crime
425 per 100K
580 per 100K
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson
Schools
14.5:1
13.6:1
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers
Childcare
$14,631/yr
N/A
Tie
Environment
556 violations
5952 violations
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson

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 · Maryland
46 F #45/51
Income tax
75
Property tax
63
Estate tax
50
Healthcare
52
Destination state · Arkansas
74 B #6/51
Income tax
75
Property tax
78
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
68

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 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson to see what you'd need to earn in Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers
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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