Helena → Ithaca
Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources
Should you move?
Moving from Helena to Ithaca is less favorable: BEA regional price parity goes from 95.7 to 103.3 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent rises by $5/mo.
- +$8,536
- BLS median salary higher in Ithaca
- 426 to 380
- violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
- 11.8:1 to 11.8:1
- NCES student-teacher ratio
- $2,403
- DOL infant care higher / yr in Ithaca
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
- + $9K higher median salary
Cons of Moving
- - 8% higher cost of living
- - More expensive childcare
- - More environmental violations
Purchasing power tightens: BEA RPP rises from 95.7 to 103.3, so the same paycheck buys less in Ithaca (ratio 1.08). HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent barely moves ($1,748 → $1,753); the housing line is not the swing factor on this corridor.
The seven-dimension ledger splits (2 destination wins · 4 origin wins); priorities decide this move. Ithaca sits #240 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). Helena is #307/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Less Favorable. Override it with the dimension table below.
BLS OEWS median salary moves $8,536 higher ($66,812 → $75,348). Labor-market size: 38,620 tracked jobs at origin vs 39,380 at destination.
State retirement friendliness is near-even: Montana 53 (D, #38/51) vs New York 46 (F, #46/51). 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
- 62
- Property tax
- 68
- Estate tax
- 100
- Healthcare
- 82
- Income tax
- 80
- Property tax
- 48
- Estate tax
- 50
- Healthcare
- 96
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 Helena to see what you'd need to earn in Ithaca 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