Parkersburg-Vienna Champaign-Urbana

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Verdict
Less Favorable
Cost Index: 87.1 → 92.7
Rent Delta: +$194/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + $11K higher median salary

Cons of Moving

  • - 6% higher cost of living
  • - $194/mo more expensive rent (2BR)
  • - More expensive childcare

Moving from Parkersburg-Vienna to Champaign-Urbana shifts your BEA Regional Price Parity from 87.1 to 92.7 (100 = US average), so a Parkersburg-Vienna salary needs to be multiplied by 1.06 to hold the same purchasing power in Champaign-Urbana. On rent, HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom goes from $928/month in Parkersburg-Vienna to $1,122/month in Champaign-Urbana - a higher monthly bill of $194, or $2,328/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 $56,041 in Parkersburg-Vienna versus $66,936 in Champaign-Urbana - a raw gap of $10,895 higher. The Champaign-Urbana labor market has 94,460 tracked jobs against 30,150 in Parkersburg-Vienna, 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 Parkersburg-Vienna and Champaign-Urbana are 242 and 277 per 100,000 (state-level). NCES student-teacher ratios run 13.1:1 at origin versus 14:1 at destination. DOL center-based infant care costs $8,974/year in Parkersburg-Vienna versus $12,257/year in Champaign-Urbana. Our composite verdict - Less Favorable - weighs all seven federal sources; the dimension table below lets you override that with your personal priorities.

Dimension
Parkersburg-Vienna
Champaign-Urbana
Winner
💰 Cost of Living
RPP 87.1
RPP 92.7
Parkersburg-Vienna
🏠 Rent (2BR)
$928/mo
$1,122/mo
Parkersburg-Vienna
💼 Wages
$56,041
$66,936
Champaign-Urbana
🔒 Crime
242 per 100K
277 per 100K
Parkersburg-Vienna
🎓 Schools
13.1:1
14:1
Parkersburg-Vienna
👶 Childcare
$8,974/yr
$12,257/yr
Parkersburg-Vienna
🌿 Environment
2371 violations
2825 violations
Parkersburg-Vienna

Salary Adjustment Calculator

Enter your current salary in Parkersburg-Vienna to see what you'd need to earn in Champaign-Urbana to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Champaign-Urbana
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Champaign-Urbana more expensive than Parkersburg-Vienna?
Champaign-Urbana has an RPP of 92.7 compared to Parkersburg-Vienna's 87.1 (100 = national average). Champaign-Urbana is more expensive overall. The 2BR rent in Champaign-Urbana is $1,122/mo vs $928/mo in Parkersburg-Vienna.
What are salaries like in Champaign-Urbana compared to Parkersburg-Vienna?
The median salary in Champaign-Urbana is $66,936 compared to $56,041 in Parkersburg-Vienna. That's a +$10,895 difference.
Is Champaign-Urbana safer than Parkersburg-Vienna?
The violent crime rate near Champaign-Urbana is 277 per 100K vs 242 per 100K near Parkersburg-Vienna (state-level data). Parkersburg-Vienna has a lower crime rate.
How much would I need to earn in Champaign-Urbana to match my Parkersburg-Vienna salary?
To maintain the same purchasing power, multiply your Parkersburg-Vienna salary by 1.06. For example, a $75,000 salary in Parkersburg-Vienna would need to be $79,857 in Champaign-Urbana. Use the salary calculator above for your exact figure.
What does the "Less Favorable" verdict mean?
The verdict is computed from 7 dimensions, cost of living, rent, wages, crime, schools, childcare, and environment, using federal data. "Less Favorable" means the origin 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)