La Crosse-Onalaska Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from La Crosse-Onalaska to Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux is less favorable: BEA regional price parity goes from 91.8 to 85.1 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent falls by $64/mo.

-$9,486
BLS median salary lower in Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux
280 to 410
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
14.4:1 to 16.8:1
NCES student-teacher ratio
$3,860
DOL infant care lower / yr in Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux

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
Less Favorable
Cost Index: 91.8 → 85.1
Rent Delta: -$64/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + 7% lower cost of living
  • + $64/mo cheaper rent (2BR)
  • + More affordable childcare

Cons of Moving

  • - $9K lower median salary
  • - Higher violent crime rate
  • - Higher student-teacher ratios
  • - More environmental violations

Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP falls from 91.8 to 85.1, so each dollar covers more in Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux (ratio 0.93). HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent drops $64/mo ($768/yr) from $1,166 in La Crosse-Onalaska to $1,102 in Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux.

The seven-dimension ledger splits (3 destination wins · 4 origin wins); priorities decide this move. Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux sits #247 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). La Crosse-Onalaska is #34/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Less Favorable. Override it with the dimension table below.

BLS OEWS median salary moves $9,486 lower ($65,600 → $56,114). Labor-market size: 78,110 tracked jobs at origin vs 76,690 at destination.

State retirement friendliness favors the destination: Louisiana scores 67 (C, #15/51) vs Wisconsin at 57 (D, #32/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
La Crosse-Onalaska
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 91.8
RPP 85.1
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux
Rent (2BR)
$1,166/mo
$1,102/mo
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux
Wages
$65,600
$56,114
La Crosse-Onalaska
Crime
280 per 100K
410 per 100K
La Crosse-Onalaska
Schools
14.4:1
16.8:1
La Crosse-Onalaska
Childcare
$11,256/yr
$7,396/yr
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux
Environment
2317 violations
14536 violations
La Crosse-Onalaska

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 · Wisconsin
57 D #32/51
Income tax
62
Property tax
56
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
40
Destination state · Louisiana
67 C #15/51
Income tax
78
Property tax
79
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
8

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 La Crosse-Onalaska to see what you'd need to earn in Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux
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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