Florence Wausau

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Verdict
Less Favorable
Cost Index: 86.8 → 92.7
Rent Delta: +$49/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + $3K higher median salary
  • + Lower violent crime rate

Cons of Moving

  • - 6% higher cost of living
  • - More expensive childcare
  • - More environmental violations

Moving from Florence to Wausau shifts your BEA Regional Price Parity from 86.8 to 92.7 (100 = US average), so a Florence salary needs to be multiplied by 1.07 to hold the same purchasing power in Wausau. On rent, HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom goes from $1,098/month in Florence to $1,147/month in Wausau - a higher monthly bill of $49, or $588/year. That rent delta alone is often the single biggest line item when relocating.

Wages tell the other half. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics report a median salary of $60,956 in Florence versus $63,772 in Wausau - a raw gap of $2,816 higher. The Wausau labor market has 63,730 tracked jobs against 82,440 in Florence, shaping how easy it is to find a comparable role. Combine that with the cost-of-living shift above and you get the real purchasing-power delta, sometimes a "higher salary" is actually a pay cut once rent and RPP are applied.

Safety, schools, and childcare round out the move. FBI UCR violent crime rates near Florence and Wausau are 439 and 280 per 100,000 (state-level). NCES student-teacher ratios run 14.3:1 at origin versus 14.4:1 at destination. DOL center-based infant care costs $7,732/year in Florence versus $11,256/year in Wausau. Our composite verdict - Less Favorable - weighs all seven federal sources; the dimension table below lets you override that with your personal priorities.

Dimension
Florence
Wausau
Winner
💰 Cost of Living
RPP 86.8
RPP 92.7
Florence
🏠 Rent (2BR)
$1,098/mo
$1,147/mo
Florence
💼 Wages
$60,956
$63,772
Wausau
🔒 Crime
439 per 100K
280 per 100K
Wausau
🎓 Schools
14.3:1
14.4:1
Florence
👶 Childcare
$7,732/yr
$11,256/yr
Florence
🌿 Environment
647 violations
2233 violations
Florence

Salary Adjustment Calculator

Enter your current salary in Florence to see what you'd need to earn in Wausau to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Wausau
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Wausau more expensive than Florence?
Wausau has an RPP of 92.7 compared to Florence's 86.8 (100 = national average). Wausau is more expensive overall. The 2BR rent in Wausau is $1,147/mo vs $1,098/mo in Florence.
What are salaries like in Wausau compared to Florence?
The median salary in Wausau is $63,772 compared to $60,956 in Florence. That's a +$2,816 difference.
Is Wausau safer than Florence?
The violent crime rate near Wausau is 280 per 100K vs 439 per 100K near Florence (state-level data). Wausau has a lower crime rate.
How much would I need to earn in Wausau to match my Florence salary?
To maintain the same purchasing power, multiply your Florence salary by 1.07. For example, a $75,000 salary in Florence would need to be $80,080 in Wausau. Use the salary calculator above for your exact figure.
What does the "Less Favorable" verdict mean?
The verdict is computed from 7 dimensions, cost of living, rent, wages, crime, schools, childcare, and environment, using federal data. "Less Favorable" means the origin edges ahead on balance. Individual priorities may shift the balance, weigh the dimensions that matter most to you.

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Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026

Data Sources

  • Cost of Living: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities
  • Rent: HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR)
  • Wages: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES)
  • Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) - state level
  • Schools: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
  • Childcare: Department of Labor (DOL) - state level
  • Environment: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)