Barnstable Town Monroe

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Verdict
Neutral — Depends on Priorities
Cost Index: 98.4 → 93.5
Rent Delta: -$1,096/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + 5% lower cost of living
  • + $1096/mo cheaper rent (2BR)
  • + More affordable childcare

Cons of Moving

  • - $13K lower median salary
  • - Higher violent crime rate
  • - Higher student-teacher ratios

Moving from Barnstable Town to Monroe shifts your BEA Regional Price Parity from 98.4 to 93.5 (100 = US average), so a Barnstable Town salary needs to be multiplied by 0.95 to hold the same purchasing power in Monroe. On rent, HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom goes from $2,422/month in Barnstable Town to $1,326/month in Monroe - a lower monthly bill of $1,096, or $13,152/year. That rent delta alone is often the single biggest line item when relocating.

Wages tell the other half. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics report a median salary of $76,307 in Barnstable Town versus $63,524 in Monroe - a raw gap of $12,783 lower. The Monroe labor market has 35,090 tracked jobs against 87,090 in Barnstable Town, shaping how easy it is to find a comparable role. Combine that with the cost-of-living shift above and you get the real purchasing-power delta, sometimes a "higher salary" is actually a pay cut once rent and RPP are applied.

Safety, schools, and childcare round out the move. FBI UCR violent crime rates near Barnstable Town and Monroe are 309 and 431 per 100,000 (state-level). NCES student-teacher ratios run 12.3:1 at origin versus 17.5:1 at destination. DOL center-based infant care costs $20,571/year in Barnstable Town versus $7,444/year in Monroe. Our composite verdict - Neutral — Depends on Priorities - weighs all seven federal sources; the dimension table below lets you override that with your personal priorities.

Dimension
Barnstable Town
Monroe
Winner
💰 Cost of Living
RPP 98.4
RPP 93.5
Monroe
🏠 Rent (2BR)
$2,422/mo
$1,326/mo
Monroe
💼 Wages
$76,307
$63,524
Barnstable Town
🔒 Crime
309 per 100K
431 per 100K
Barnstable Town
🎓 Schools
12.3:1
17.5:1
Barnstable Town
👶 Childcare
$20,571/yr
$7,444/yr
Monroe
🌿 Environment
1106 violations
1000 violations
Monroe

Salary Adjustment Calculator

Enter your current salary in Barnstable Town to see what you'd need to earn in Monroe to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Monroe
-

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Monroe more expensive than Barnstable Town?
Monroe has an RPP of 93.5 compared to Barnstable Town's 98.4 (100 = national average). Barnstable Town is more expensive overall. The 2BR rent in Monroe is $1,326/mo vs $2,422/mo in Barnstable Town.
What are salaries like in Monroe compared to Barnstable Town?
The median salary in Monroe is $63,524 compared to $76,307 in Barnstable Town. That's a -$12,783 difference.
Is Monroe safer than Barnstable Town?
The violent crime rate near Monroe is 431 per 100K vs 309 per 100K near Barnstable Town (state-level data). Barnstable Town has a lower crime rate.
How much would I need to earn in Monroe to match my Barnstable Town salary?
To maintain the same purchasing power, multiply your Barnstable Town salary by 0.95. For example, a $75,000 salary in Barnstable Town would need to be $71,295 in Monroe. Use the salary calculator above for your exact figure.
What does the "Neutral — Depends on Priorities" verdict mean?
The verdict is computed from 7 dimensions, cost of living, rent, wages, crime, schools, childcare, and environment, using federal data. "Neutral — Depends on Priorities" means both metros are roughly equivalent across the 7 dimensions. Individual priorities may shift the balance, weigh the dimensions that matter most to you.

Explore PlainRelocate

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026

Data Sources

  • Cost of Living: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities
  • Rent: HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR)
  • Wages: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES)
  • Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) - state level
  • Schools: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
  • Childcare: Department of Labor (DOL) - state level
  • Environment: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)