Casper Amherst Town-Northampton

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from Casper to Amherst Town-Northampton is unfavorable: BEA regional price parity goes from 93.8 to 100.2 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent rises by $922/mo.

+$15,049
BLS median salary higher in Amherst Town-Northampton
191 to 309
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
11.4:1 to 12.3:1
NCES student-teacher ratio
$12,069
DOL infant care higher / yr in Amherst Town-Northampton

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
Unfavorable
Cost Index: 93.8 → 100.2
Rent Delta: +$922/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + $15K higher median salary

Cons of Moving

  • - 6% higher cost of living
  • - $922/mo more expensive rent (2BR)
  • - Higher violent crime rate
  • - More expensive childcare
  • - More environmental violations

Purchasing power tightens: BEA RPP rises from 93.8 to 100.2, so the same paycheck buys less in Amherst Town-Northampton (ratio 1.07). HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent rises $922/mo ($11,064/yr) from $1,082 in Casper to $2,004 in Amherst Town-Northampton.

Casper still leads on 6 of 7 federal dimensions, the origin keeps the edge. Amherst Town-Northampton sits #162 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). Casper is #21/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Unfavorable. Override it with the dimension table below.

BLS OEWS median salary moves $15,049 higher ($61,647 → $76,696). Labor-market size: 33,190 tracked jobs at origin vs 59,110 at destination.

State retirement friendliness favors staying put: Wyoming scores 77 (B, #4/51) vs Massachusetts at 45 (F, #48/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
Casper
Amherst Town-Northampton
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 93.8
RPP 100.2
Casper
Rent (2BR)
$1,082/mo
$2,004/mo
Casper
Wages
$61,647
$76,696
Amherst Town-Northampton
Crime
191 per 100K
309 per 100K
Casper
Schools
11.4:1
12.3:1
Casper
Childcare
$8,502/yr
$20,571/yr
Casper
Environment
730 violations
1140 violations
Casper

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 · Wyoming
77 B #4/51
Income tax
100
Property tax
85
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
92
Destination state · Massachusetts
45 F #48/51
Income tax
55
Property tax
65
Estate tax
50
Healthcare
84

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 Casper to see what you'd need to earn in Amherst Town-Northampton to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Amherst Town-Northampton
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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