Hot Springs Macon-Bibb County

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from Hot Springs to Macon-Bibb County is favorable: BEA regional price parity goes from 85.7 to 88.5 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent rises by $217/mo.

+$7,380
BLS median salary higher in Macon-Bibb County
580 to 300
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
13.6:1 to 14.4:1
NCES student-teacher ratio

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: 85.7 → 88.5
Rent Delta: +$217/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + $7K higher median salary
  • + Lower violent crime rate
  • + Fewer environmental violations

Cons of Moving

  • - $217/mo more expensive rent (2BR)

Purchasing power stays near-even: BEA RPP moves only from 85.7 to 88.5 (ratio 1.03), inside a ±5% band. HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent rises $217/mo ($2,604/yr) from $1,090 in Hot Springs to $1,307 in Macon-Bibb County.

The seven-dimension ledger splits (3 destination wins · 3 origin wins); priorities decide this move. Macon-Bibb County sits #177 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). Hot Springs is #127/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Favorable. Override it with the dimension table below.

BLS OEWS median salary moves $7,380 higher ($51,849 → $59,229). Labor-market size: 33,280 tracked jobs at origin vs 88,060 at destination.

State retirement friendliness is near-even: Arkansas 74 (B, #6/51) vs Georgia 68 (C, #10/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
Hot Springs
Macon-Bibb County
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 85.7
RPP 88.5
Hot Springs
Rent (2BR)
$1,090/mo
$1,307/mo
Hot Springs
Wages
$51,849
$59,229
Macon-Bibb County
Crime
580 per 100K
300 per 100K
Macon-Bibb County
Schools
13.6:1
14.4:1
Hot Springs
Childcare
N/A
$6,591/yr
Tie
Environment
5952 violations
2771 violations
Macon-Bibb County

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 · Arkansas
74 B #6/51
Income tax
75
Property tax
78
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
68
Destination state · Georgia
68 C #10/51
Income tax
88
Property tax
74
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
48

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 Hot Springs to see what you'd need to earn in Macon-Bibb County to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Macon-Bibb County
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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