Owensboro Mount Vernon-Anacortes

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from Owensboro to Mount Vernon-Anacortes is unfavorable: BEA regional price parity goes from 88.6 to 102.4 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent rises by $610/mo.

+$15,054
BLS median salary higher in Mount Vernon-Anacortes
225 to 329
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
15.2:1 to 17.6:1
NCES student-teacher ratio
$8,749
DOL infant care higher / yr in Mount Vernon-Anacortes

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
Unfavorable
Cost Index: 88.6 → 102.4
Rent Delta: +$610/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + $15K higher median salary

Cons of Moving

  • - 14% higher cost of living
  • - $610/mo more expensive rent (2BR)
  • - Higher violent crime rate
  • - Higher student-teacher ratios
  • - More expensive childcare
  • - More environmental violations

Purchasing power tightens: BEA RPP rises from 88.6 to 102.4, so the same paycheck buys less in Mount Vernon-Anacortes (ratio 1.16). HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent rises $610/mo ($7,320/yr) from $1,110 in Owensboro to $1,720 in Mount Vernon-Anacortes.

Owensboro still leads on 6 of 7 federal dimensions, the origin keeps the edge. Mount Vernon-Anacortes sits #253 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). Owensboro is #106/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Unfavorable. Override it with the dimension table below.

BLS OEWS median salary moves $15,054 higher ($59,581 → $74,635). Labor-market size: 41,400 tracked jobs at origin vs 46,720 at destination.

State retirement friendliness favors staying put: Kentucky scores 68 (C, #11/51) vs Washington at 38 (F, #51/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
Owensboro
Mount Vernon-Anacortes
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 88.6
RPP 102.4
Owensboro
Rent (2BR)
$1,110/mo
$1,720/mo
Owensboro
Wages
$59,581
$74,635
Mount Vernon-Anacortes
Crime
225 per 100K
329 per 100K
Owensboro
Schools
15.2:1
17.6:1
Owensboro
Childcare
$7,238/yr
$15,987/yr
Owensboro
Environment
1864 violations
2879 violations
Owensboro

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 · Kentucky
68 C #11/51
Income tax
72
Property tax
73
Estate tax
50
Healthcare
38
Destination state · Washington
38 F #51/51
Income tax
63
Property tax
63
Estate tax
50
Healthcare
18

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 Owensboro to see what you'd need to earn in Mount Vernon-Anacortes to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Mount Vernon-Anacortes
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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