Erie → Bellingham
Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources
Should you move?
Moving from Erie to Bellingham is less favorable: BEA regional price parity goes from 91.0 to 103.3 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent rises by $582/mo.
- +$14,999
- BLS median salary higher in Bellingham
- 250 to 329
- violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
- 13.6:1 to 17.6:1
- NCES student-teacher ratio
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.
Pros of Moving
- + $15K higher median salary
- + Fewer environmental violations
Cons of Moving
- - 12% higher cost of living
- - $582/mo more expensive rent (2BR)
- - Higher violent crime rate
- - Higher student-teacher ratios
Purchasing power tightens: BEA RPP rises from 91.0 to 103.3, so the same paycheck buys less in Bellingham (ratio 1.14). HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent rises $582/mo ($6,984/yr) from $1,212 in Erie to $1,794 in Bellingham.
The seven-dimension ledger splits (2 destination wins · 4 origin wins); priorities decide this move. Bellingham sits #235 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). Erie is #85/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Less Favorable. Override it with the dimension table below.
BLS OEWS median salary moves $14,999 higher ($59,724 → $74,723). Labor-market size: 113,330 tracked jobs at origin vs 82,720 at destination.
State retirement friendliness favors staying put: Pennsylvania scores 65 (C, #18/51) vs Washington at 38 (F, #51/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.
State retirement friendliness
Primary-state scores from PlainRelocate's retirement registry (tax + healthcare + climate composite). Metro pairs use each metro's primary state abbreviation.
- Income tax
- 95
- Property tax
- 58
- Estate tax
- 100
- Healthcare
- 72
- Income tax
- 63
- Property tax
- 63
- Estate tax
- 50
- Healthcare
- 18
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 Erie to see what you'd need to earn in Bellingham to maintain the same purchasing power.
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