Binghamton La Crosse-Onalaska

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Verdict
Neutral — Depends on Priorities
Cost Index: 92.9 → 91.8
Rent Delta: +$63/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + Lower violent crime rate
  • + More affordable childcare
  • + Fewer environmental violations

Cons of Moving

  • - $63/mo more expensive rent (2BR)
  • - $5K lower median salary
  • - Higher student-teacher ratios

Moving from Binghamton to La Crosse-Onalaska shifts your BEA Regional Price Parity from 92.9 to 91.8 (100 = US average), so a Binghamton salary needs to be multiplied by 0.99 to hold the same purchasing power in La Crosse-Onalaska. On rent, HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom goes from $1,103/month in Binghamton to $1,166/month in La Crosse-Onalaska - a higher monthly bill of $63, or $756/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 $70,400 in Binghamton versus $65,600 in La Crosse-Onalaska - a raw gap of $4,800 lower. The La Crosse-Onalaska labor market has 78,110 tracked jobs against 89,220 in Binghamton, 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 Binghamton and La Crosse-Onalaska are 380 and 280 per 100,000 (state-level). NCES student-teacher ratios run 11.8:1 at origin versus 14.4:1 at destination. DOL center-based infant care costs $13,869/year in Binghamton versus $11,256/year in La Crosse-Onalaska. 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
Binghamton
La Crosse-Onalaska
Winner
💰 Cost of Living
RPP 92.9
RPP 91.8
La Crosse-Onalaska
🏠 Rent (2BR)
$1,103/mo
$1,166/mo
Binghamton
💼 Wages
$70,400
$65,600
Binghamton
🔒 Crime
380 per 100K
280 per 100K
La Crosse-Onalaska
🎓 Schools
11.8:1
14.4:1
Binghamton
👶 Childcare
$13,869/yr
$11,256/yr
La Crosse-Onalaska
🌿 Environment
5270 violations
2233 violations
La Crosse-Onalaska

Salary Adjustment Calculator

Enter your current salary in Binghamton to see what you'd need to earn in La Crosse-Onalaska to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in La Crosse-Onalaska
-

Frequently Asked Questions

Is La Crosse-Onalaska more expensive than Binghamton?
La Crosse-Onalaska has an RPP of 91.8 compared to Binghamton's 92.9 (100 = national average). Binghamton is more expensive overall. The 2BR rent in La Crosse-Onalaska is $1,166/mo vs $1,103/mo in Binghamton.
What are salaries like in La Crosse-Onalaska compared to Binghamton?
The median salary in La Crosse-Onalaska is $65,600 compared to $70,400 in Binghamton. That's a -$4,800 difference.
Is La Crosse-Onalaska safer than Binghamton?
The violent crime rate near La Crosse-Onalaska is 280 per 100K vs 380 per 100K near Binghamton (state-level data). La Crosse-Onalaska has a lower crime rate.
How much would I need to earn in La Crosse-Onalaska to match my Binghamton salary?
To maintain the same purchasing power, multiply your Binghamton salary by 0.99. For example, a $75,000 salary in Binghamton would need to be $74,116 in La Crosse-Onalaska. 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)