Lubbock Milwaukee-Waukesha

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from Lubbock to Milwaukee-Waukesha is neutral, depends on priorities: BEA regional price parity goes from 91.3 to 96.9 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent rises by $365/mo.

+$14,071
BLS median salary higher in Milwaukee-Waukesha
395 to 280
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
14.7:1 to 14.4:1
NCES student-teacher ratio
$3,690
DOL infant care higher / yr in Milwaukee-Waukesha

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: 91.3 → 96.9
Rent Delta: +$365/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + $14K higher median salary
  • + Lower violent crime rate
  • + Fewer environmental violations

Cons of Moving

  • - 6% higher cost of living
  • - $365/mo more expensive rent (2BR)
  • - More expensive childcare

Purchasing power tightens: BEA RPP rises from 91.3 to 96.9, so the same paycheck buys less in Milwaukee-Waukesha (ratio 1.06). HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent rises $365/mo ($4,380/yr) from $973 in Lubbock to $1,338 in Milwaukee-Waukesha.

The seven-dimension ledger splits (4 destination wins · 3 origin wins); priorities decide this move. Milwaukee-Waukesha sits #208 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). Lubbock is #105/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Neutral, depends on priorities. Override it with the dimension table below.

BLS OEWS median salary moves $14,071 higher ($57,428 → $71,499). Labor-market size: 159,410 tracked jobs at origin vs 800,340 at destination.

State retirement friendliness favors staying put: Texas scores 65 (C, #19/51) vs Wisconsin at 57 (D, #32/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
Lubbock
Milwaukee-Waukesha
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 91.3
RPP 96.9
Lubbock
Rent (2BR)
$973/mo
$1,338/mo
Lubbock
Wages
$57,428
$71,499
Milwaukee-Waukesha
Crime
395 per 100K
280 per 100K
Milwaukee-Waukesha
Schools
14.7:1
14.4:1
Milwaukee-Waukesha
Childcare
$7,566/yr
$11,256/yr
Lubbock
Environment
35693 violations
2317 violations
Milwaukee-Waukesha

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 · Texas
65 C #19/51
Income tax
100
Property tax
55
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
44
Destination state · Wisconsin
57 D #32/51
Income tax
62
Property tax
56
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
40

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 Lubbock to see what you'd need to earn in Milwaukee-Waukesha to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Milwaukee-Waukesha
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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