La Crosse-Onalaska Jackson

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from La Crosse-Onalaska to Jackson is neutral, depends on priorities: BEA regional price parity goes from 91.8 to 91.8 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent falls by $1/mo.

-$1,935
BLS median salary lower in Jackson
280 to 431
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
14.4:1 to 17.5:1
NCES student-teacher ratio
$3,812
DOL infant care lower / yr in Jackson

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
Neutral, depends on priorities
Cost Index: 91.8 → 91.8
Rent Delta: -$1/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + More affordable childcare
  • + Fewer environmental violations

Cons of Moving

  • - Higher violent crime rate
  • - Higher student-teacher ratios

Purchasing power stays near-even: BEA RPP moves only from 91.8 to 91.8 (ratio 1.00), inside a ±5% band. HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent barely moves ($1,166 → $1,165); the housing line is not the swing factor on this corridor.

The seven-dimension ledger splits (3 destination wins · 4 origin wins); priorities decide this move. Jackson sits #224 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). La Crosse-Onalaska is #34/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Neutral, depends on priorities. Override it with the dimension table below.

BLS OEWS median salary moves $1,935 lower ($65,600 → $63,665). Labor-market size: 78,110 tracked jobs at origin vs 47,640 at destination.

State retirement friendliness favors staying put: Wisconsin scores 57 (D, #32/51) vs Michigan at 49 (F, #42/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
La Crosse-Onalaska
Jackson
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 91.8
RPP 91.8
La Crosse-Onalaska
Rent (2BR)
$1,166/mo
$1,165/mo
Jackson
Wages
$65,600
$63,665
La Crosse-Onalaska
Crime
280 per 100K
431 per 100K
La Crosse-Onalaska
Schools
14.4:1
17.5:1
La Crosse-Onalaska
Childcare
$11,256/yr
$7,444/yr
Jackson
Environment
2317 violations
1120 violations
Jackson

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 · Michigan
49 F #42/51
Income tax
72
Property tax
59
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
16

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 Jackson to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Jackson
-

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