Florence-Muscle Shoals Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from Florence-Muscle Shoals to Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater is unfavorable: BEA regional price parity goes from 84.8 to 103.7 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent rises by $960/mo.

+$22,859
BLS median salary higher in Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater
376 to 329
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
17.7:1 to 17.6:1
NCES student-teacher ratio
$9,091
DOL infant care higher / yr in Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater

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: 84.8 → 103.7
Rent Delta: +$960/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + $23K higher median salary

Cons of Moving

  • - 19% higher cost of living
  • - $960/mo more expensive rent (2BR)
  • - More expensive childcare
  • - More environmental violations

Purchasing power tightens: BEA RPP rises from 84.8 to 103.7, so the same paycheck buys less in Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater (ratio 1.22). HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent rises $960/mo ($11,520/yr) from $1,000 in Florence-Muscle Shoals to $1,960 in Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater.

The seven-dimension ledger splits (3 destination wins · 4 origin wins); priorities decide this move. Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater sits #258 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). Florence-Muscle Shoals is #83/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Unfavorable. Override it with the dimension table below.

BLS OEWS median salary moves $22,859 higher ($54,891 → $77,750). Labor-market size: 48,280 tracked jobs at origin vs 123,100 at destination.

State retirement friendliness favors staying put: Alabama scores 75 (B, #5/51) vs Washington at 38 (F, #51/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
Florence-Muscle Shoals
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 84.8
RPP 103.7
Florence-Muscle Shoals
Rent (2BR)
$1,000/mo
$1,960/mo
Florence-Muscle Shoals
Wages
$54,891
$77,750
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater
Crime
376 per 100K
329 per 100K
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater
Schools
17.7:1
17.6:1
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater
Childcare
$6,896/yr
$15,987/yr
Florence-Muscle Shoals
Environment
538 violations
2879 violations
Florence-Muscle Shoals

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 · Washington
38 F #51/51
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 Florence-Muscle Shoals to see what you'd need to earn in Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater
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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