Duluth Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from Duluth to Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin is unfavorable: BEA regional price parity goes from 88.8 to 97.0 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent rises by $553/mo.

-$3,837
BLS median salary lower in Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin
259 to 210
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
15.8:1 to 17.8:1
NCES student-teacher ratio
$1,217
DOL infant care lower / 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: 88.8 → 97.0
Rent Delta: +$553/mo

Cons of Moving

  • - 8% higher cost of living
  • - $553/mo more expensive rent (2BR)
  • - $4K lower median salary
  • - Higher student-teacher ratios
  • - More environmental violations

Purchasing power tightens: BEA RPP rises from 88.8 to 97.0, so the same paycheck buys less in Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin (ratio 1.09). HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent rises $553/mo ($6,636/yr) from $1,232 in Duluth to $1,785 in Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin.

Duluth 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). Duluth is #79/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Unfavorable. Override it with the dimension table below.

BLS OEWS median salary moves $3,837 lower ($70,452 → $66,615). Labor-market size: 117,960 tracked jobs at origin vs 119,420 at destination.

State retirement friendliness favors the destination: Florida scores 62 (C, #23/51) vs Minnesota at 49 (F, #43/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
Duluth
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 88.8
RPP 97.0
Duluth
Rent (2BR)
$1,232/mo
$1,785/mo
Duluth
Wages
$70,452
$66,615
Duluth
Crime
259 per 100K
210 per 100K
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin
Schools
15.8:1
17.8:1
Duluth
Childcare
$11,722/yr
$10,505/yr
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin
Environment
1033 violations
2736 violations
Duluth

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 · Minnesota
49 F #43/51
Income tax
60
Property tax
62
Estate tax
50
Healthcare
34
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 Duluth 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