Decatur Sandusky

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from Decatur to Sandusky is unfavorable: BEA regional price parity goes from 87.2 to 89.3 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent rises by $145/mo.

-$2,304
BLS median salary lower in Sandusky
376 to 293
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
17.7:1 to 18.2:1
NCES student-teacher ratio
$4,895
DOL infant care higher / yr in Sandusky

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: 87.2 → 89.3
Rent Delta: +$145/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + Lower violent crime rate

Cons of Moving

  • - $145/mo more expensive rent (2BR)
  • - $2K lower median salary
  • - More expensive childcare
  • - More environmental violations

Purchasing power stays near-even: BEA RPP moves only from 87.2 to 89.3 (ratio 1.02), inside a ±5% band. HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent rises $145/mo ($1,740/yr) from $961 in Decatur to $1,106 in Sandusky.

Decatur still leads on 6 of 7 federal dimensions, the origin keeps the edge. Sandusky sits #164 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). Decatur is #55/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Unfavorable. Override it with the dimension table below.

BLS OEWS median salary moves $2,304 lower ($61,714 → $59,410). Labor-market size: 54,590 tracked jobs at origin vs 43,460 at destination.

State retirement friendliness favors staying put: Alabama scores 75 (B, #5/51) vs Ohio at 59 (D, #29/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
Decatur
Sandusky
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 87.2
RPP 89.3
Decatur
Rent (2BR)
$961/mo
$1,106/mo
Decatur
Wages
$61,714
$59,410
Decatur
Crime
376 per 100K
293 per 100K
Sandusky
Schools
17.7:1
18.2:1
Decatur
Childcare
$6,896/yr
$11,791/yr
Decatur
Environment
538 violations
1500 violations
Decatur

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 · Alabama
75 B #5/51
Income tax
90
Property tax
92
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
20
Destination state · Ohio
59 D #29/51
Income tax
72
Property tax
57
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
10

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 Decatur to see what you'd need to earn in Sandusky to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Sandusky
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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