Longview-Kelso Niles

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Verdict
Favorable
Cost Index: 97.5 → 92.4
Rent Delta: -$267/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + 5% lower cost of living
  • + $267/mo cheaper rent (2BR)
  • + More affordable childcare
  • + Fewer environmental violations

Cons of Moving

  • - $11K lower median salary
  • - Higher violent crime rate

Moving from Longview-Kelso to Niles shifts your BEA Regional Price Parity from 97.5 to 92.4 (100 = US average), so a Longview-Kelso salary needs to be multiplied by 0.95 to hold the same purchasing power in Niles. On rent, HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom goes from $1,451/month in Longview-Kelso to $1,184/month in Niles - a lower monthly bill of $267, or $3,204/year. That rent delta alone is often the single biggest line item when relocating.

Wages tell the other half. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics report a median salary of $72,685 in Longview-Kelso versus $61,444 in Niles - a raw gap of $11,241 lower. The Niles labor market has 51,600 tracked jobs against 34,650 in Longview-Kelso, shaping how easy it is to find a comparable role. Combine that with the cost-of-living shift above and you get the real purchasing-power delta, sometimes a "higher salary" is actually a pay cut once rent and RPP are applied.

Safety, schools, and childcare round out the move. FBI UCR violent crime rates near Longview-Kelso and Niles are 329 and 431 per 100,000 (state-level). NCES student-teacher ratios run 17.6:1 at origin versus 17.5:1 at destination. DOL center-based infant care costs $15,987/year in Longview-Kelso versus $7,444/year in Niles. Our composite verdict - Favorable - weighs all seven federal sources; the dimension table below lets you override that with your personal priorities.

Dimension
Longview-Kelso
Niles
Winner
💰 Cost of Living
RPP 97.5
RPP 92.4
Niles
🏠 Rent (2BR)
$1,451/mo
$1,184/mo
Niles
💼 Wages
$72,685
$61,444
Longview-Kelso
🔒 Crime
329 per 100K
431 per 100K
Longview-Kelso
🎓 Schools
17.6:1
17.5:1
Niles
👶 Childcare
$15,987/yr
$7,444/yr
Niles
🌿 Environment
2705 violations
1000 violations
Niles

Salary Adjustment Calculator

Enter your current salary in Longview-Kelso to see what you'd need to earn in Niles to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Niles
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Niles more expensive than Longview-Kelso?
Niles has an RPP of 92.4 compared to Longview-Kelso's 97.5 (100 = national average). Longview-Kelso is more expensive overall. The 2BR rent in Niles is $1,184/mo vs $1,451/mo in Longview-Kelso.
What are salaries like in Niles compared to Longview-Kelso?
The median salary in Niles is $61,444 compared to $72,685 in Longview-Kelso. That's a -$11,241 difference.
Is Niles safer than Longview-Kelso?
The violent crime rate near Niles is 431 per 100K vs 329 per 100K near Longview-Kelso (state-level data). Longview-Kelso has a lower crime rate.
How much would I need to earn in Niles to match my Longview-Kelso salary?
To maintain the same purchasing power, multiply your Longview-Kelso salary by 0.95. For example, a $75,000 salary in Longview-Kelso would need to be $71,021 in Niles. Use the salary calculator above for your exact figure.
What does the "Favorable" verdict mean?
The verdict is computed from 7 dimensions, cost of living, rent, wages, crime, schools, childcare, and environment, using federal data. "Favorable" means the destination edges ahead on balance. Individual priorities may shift the balance, weigh the dimensions that matter most to you.

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Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026

Data Sources

  • Cost of Living: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities
  • Rent: HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR)
  • Wages: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES)
  • Crime: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) - state level
  • Schools: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
  • Childcare: Department of Labor (DOL) - state level
  • Environment: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)