Dubuque Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from Dubuque to Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin is unfavorable: BEA regional price parity goes from 87.3 to 97.0 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent rises by $708/mo.

+$4,685
BLS median salary higher in Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin
238 to 210
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
14.8:1 to 17.8:1
NCES student-teacher ratio
$2,199
DOL infant care higher / yr in Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin

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: 87.3 → 97.0
Rent Delta: +$708/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + $5K higher median salary

Cons of Moving

  • - 10% higher cost of living
  • - $708/mo more expensive rent (2BR)
  • - Higher student-teacher ratios
  • - More expensive childcare
  • - More environmental violations

Purchasing power tightens: BEA RPP rises from 87.3 to 97.0, so the same paycheck buys less in Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin (ratio 1.11). HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent rises $708/mo ($8,496/yr) from $1,077 in Dubuque to $1,785 in Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin.

Dubuque still leads on 5 of 7 federal dimensions, the origin keeps the edge. Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin sits #211 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). Dubuque is #33/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Unfavorable. Override it with the dimension table below.

BLS OEWS median salary moves $4,685 higher ($61,930 → $66,615). Labor-market size: 51,410 tracked jobs at origin vs 119,420 at destination.

State retirement friendliness favors staying put: Iowa scores 70 (B, #8/51) vs Florida at 62 (C, #23/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
Dubuque
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 87.3
RPP 97.0
Dubuque
Rent (2BR)
$1,077/mo
$1,785/mo
Dubuque
Wages
$61,930
$66,615
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin
Crime
238 per 100K
210 per 100K
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin
Schools
14.8:1
17.8:1
Dubuque
Childcare
$8,306/yr
$10,505/yr
Dubuque
Environment
742 violations
2736 violations
Dubuque

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 · Iowa
70 B #8/51
Income tax
85
Property tax
58
Estate tax
50
Healthcare
42
Destination state · Florida
62 C #23/51
Income tax
100
Property tax
67
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
12

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 Dubuque to see what you'd need to earn in Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin
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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