Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood Lewiston

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood to Lewiston is favorable: BEA regional price parity goes from 95.5 to 91.2 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent falls by $114/mo.

-$5,702
BLS median salary lower in Lewiston
431 to 235
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
17.5:1 to 17.1:1
NCES student-teacher ratio
$129
DOL infant care lower / yr in Lewiston

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: 95.5 → 91.2
Rent Delta: -$114/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + 4% lower cost of living
  • + $114/mo cheaper rent (2BR)
  • + Lower violent crime rate

Cons of Moving

  • - $6K lower median salary
  • - More environmental violations

Purchasing power stays near-even: BEA RPP moves only from 95.5 to 91.2 (ratio 0.95), inside a ±5% band. HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent drops $114/mo ($1,368/yr) from $1,334 in Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood to $1,220 in Lewiston.

Lewiston leads on 5 of 7 federal dimensions, a destination-heavy ledger. Lewiston sits #135 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood is #325/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Favorable. Override it with the dimension table below.

BLS OEWS median salary moves $5,702 lower ($64,968 → $59,266). Labor-market size: 584,240 tracked jobs at origin vs 22,910 at destination.

State retirement friendliness favors the destination: Idaho scores 58 (D, #30/51) vs Michigan at 49 (F, #42/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood
Lewiston
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 95.5
RPP 91.2
Lewiston
Rent (2BR)
$1,334/mo
$1,220/mo
Lewiston
Wages
$64,968
$59,266
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood
Crime
431 per 100K
235 per 100K
Lewiston
Schools
17.5:1
17.1:1
Lewiston
Childcare
$7,444/yr
$7,315/yr
Lewiston
Environment
1120 violations
2331 violations
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood

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 · Michigan
49 F #42/51
Income tax
72
Property tax
59
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
16
Destination state · Idaho
58 D #30/51
Income tax
70
Property tax
76
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
24

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 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood to see what you'd need to earn in Lewiston to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Lewiston
-

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