College Station-Bryan Boston-Cambridge-Newton

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from College Station-Bryan to Boston-Cambridge-Newton is favorable: BEA regional price parity goes from 91.0 to 108.3 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent rises by $1,755/mo.

+$21,611
BLS median salary higher in Boston-Cambridge-Newton
395 to 309
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
14.7:1 to 12.3:1
NCES student-teacher ratio
$13,005
DOL infant care higher / yr in Boston-Cambridge-Newton

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
Favorable
Cost Index: 91.0 → 108.3
Rent Delta: +$1,755/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + $22K higher median salary
  • + Lower violent crime rate
  • + Better student-teacher ratios
  • + Fewer environmental violations

Cons of Moving

  • - 17% higher cost of living
  • - $1755/mo more expensive rent (2BR)
  • - More expensive childcare

Purchasing power tightens: BEA RPP rises from 91.0 to 108.3, so the same paycheck buys less in Boston-Cambridge-Newton (ratio 1.19). HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent rises $1,755/mo ($21,060/yr) from $1,186 in College Station-Bryan to $2,941 in Boston-Cambridge-Newton.

The seven-dimension ledger splits (4 destination wins · 3 origin wins); priorities decide this move. Boston-Cambridge-Newton sits #218 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). College Station-Bryan is #95/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Favorable. Override it with the dimension table below.

BLS OEWS median salary moves $21,611 higher ($62,191 → $83,802). Labor-market size: 118,500 tracked jobs at origin vs 2,639,240 at destination.

State retirement friendliness favors staying put: Texas scores 65 (C, #19/51) vs Massachusetts at 45 (F, #48/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
College Station-Bryan
Boston-Cambridge-Newton
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 91.0
RPP 108.3
College Station-Bryan
Rent (2BR)
$1,186/mo
$2,941/mo
College Station-Bryan
Wages
$62,191
$83,802
Boston-Cambridge-Newton
Crime
395 per 100K
309 per 100K
Boston-Cambridge-Newton
Schools
14.7:1
12.3:1
Boston-Cambridge-Newton
Childcare
$7,566/yr
$20,571/yr
College Station-Bryan
Environment
35693 violations
1140 violations
Boston-Cambridge-Newton

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 · Texas
65 C #19/51
Income tax
100
Property tax
55
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
44
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 College Station-Bryan to see what you'd need to earn in Boston-Cambridge-Newton to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Boston-Cambridge-Newton
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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