Fort Collins-Loveland Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from Fort Collins-Loveland to Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal is favorable: BEA regional price parity goes from 101.1 to 98.0 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent rises by $84/mo.

-$10,273
BLS median salary lower in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal
481 to 439
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
16.6:1 to 14.3:1
NCES student-teacher ratio
$5,089
DOL infant care lower / yr in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal

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
Favorable
Cost Index: 101.1 → 98.0
Rent Delta: +$84/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + 3% lower cost of living
  • + Better student-teacher ratios
  • + More affordable childcare
  • + Fewer environmental violations

Cons of Moving

  • - $84/mo more expensive rent (2BR)
  • - $10K lower median salary

Purchasing power stays near-even: BEA RPP moves only from 101.1 to 98.0 (ratio 0.97), inside a ±5% band. HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent rises $84/mo ($1,008/yr) from $1,732 in Fort Collins-Loveland to $1,816 in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal.

Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal leads on 5 of 7 federal dimensions, a destination-heavy ledger. Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal sits #183 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). Fort Collins-Loveland is #371/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Favorable. Override it with the dimension table below.

BLS OEWS median salary moves $10,273 lower ($73,292 → $63,019). Labor-market size: 149,520 tracked jobs at origin vs 77,390 at destination.

State retirement friendliness favors the destination: South Carolina scores 80 (A, #3/51) vs Colorado at 46 (F, #44/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
Fort Collins-Loveland
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 101.1
RPP 98.0
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal
Rent (2BR)
$1,732/mo
$1,816/mo
Fort Collins-Loveland
Wages
$73,292
$63,019
Fort Collins-Loveland
Crime
481 per 100K
439 per 100K
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal
Schools
16.6:1
14.3:1
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal
Childcare
$12,821/yr
$7,732/yr
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal
Environment
5561 violations
720 violations
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal

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 · Colorado
46 F #44/51
Income tax
80
Property tax
90
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
26
Destination state · South Carolina
80 A #3/51
Income tax
85
Property tax
87
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
56

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 Fort Collins-Loveland to see what you'd need to earn in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal
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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