Kankakee Manhattan

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from Kankakee to Manhattan is favorable: BEA regional price parity goes from 96.4 to 90.2 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent falls by $278/mo.

-$716
BLS median salary lower in Manhattan
277 to 456
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
14:1 to 13.8:1
NCES student-teacher ratio
$6,474
DOL infant care lower / yr in Manhattan

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: 96.4 → 90.2
Rent Delta: -$278/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + 6% lower cost of living
  • + $278/mo cheaper rent (2BR)
  • + More affordable childcare

Cons of Moving

  • - Higher violent crime rate

Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP falls from 96.4 to 90.2, so each dollar covers more in Manhattan (ratio 0.94). HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent drops $278/mo ($3,336/yr) from $1,326 in Kankakee to $1,048 in Manhattan.

The seven-dimension ledger splits (4 destination wins · 3 origin wins); priorities decide this move. Manhattan sits #133 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). Kankakee is #292/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Favorable. Override it with the dimension table below.

BLS OEWS median salary moves $716 lower ($61,541 → $60,825). Labor-market size: 36,680 tracked jobs at origin vs 45,880 at destination.

State retirement friendliness is near-even: Illinois 58 (D, #31/51) vs Kansas 63 (C, #21/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
Kankakee
Manhattan
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 96.4
RPP 90.2
Manhattan
Rent (2BR)
$1,326/mo
$1,048/mo
Manhattan
Wages
$61,541
$60,825
Kankakee
Crime
277 per 100K
456 per 100K
Kankakee
Schools
14:1
13.8:1
Manhattan
Childcare
$12,257/yr
$5,783/yr
Manhattan
Environment
3029 violations
3819 violations
Kankakee

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 · Illinois
58 D #31/51
Income tax
95
Property tax
46
Estate tax
50
Healthcare
46
Destination state · Kansas
63 C #21/51
Income tax
68
Property tax
61
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
54

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 Kankakee to see what you'd need to earn in Manhattan to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Manhattan
-

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