Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler Texarkana

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler to Texarkana is favorable: BEA regional price parity goes from 103.3 to 84.0 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent falls by $959/mo.

-$16,657
BLS median salary lower in Texarkana
429 to 395
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
17:1 to 14.7:1
NCES student-teacher ratio
$3,735
DOL infant care lower / yr in Texarkana

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
Favorable
Cost Index: 103.3 → 84.0
Rent Delta: -$959/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + 19% lower cost of living
  • + $959/mo cheaper rent (2BR)
  • + Better student-teacher ratios
  • + More affordable childcare

Cons of Moving

  • - $17K lower median salary
  • - More environmental violations

Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP falls from 103.3 to 84.0, so each dollar covers more in Texarkana (ratio 0.81). HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent drops $959/mo ($11,508/yr) from $1,839 in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler to $880 in Texarkana.

Texarkana leads on 5 of 7 federal dimensions, a destination-heavy ledger. Texarkana sits #152 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler is #357/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Favorable. Override it with the dimension table below.

BLS OEWS median salary moves $16,657 lower ($73,543 → $56,886). Labor-market size: 2,342,930 tracked jobs at origin vs 50,920 at destination.

State retirement friendliness favors the destination: Texas scores 65 (C, #19/51) vs Arizona at 53 (D, #37/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler
Texarkana
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 103.3
RPP 84.0
Texarkana
Rent (2BR)
$1,839/mo
$880/mo
Texarkana
Wages
$73,543
$56,886
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler
Crime
429 per 100K
395 per 100K
Texarkana
Schools
17:1
14.7:1
Texarkana
Childcare
$11,301/yr
$7,566/yr
Texarkana
Environment
5259 violations
35693 violations
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler

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 · Arizona
53 D #37/51
Income tax
82
Property tax
80
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
22
Destination state · Texas
65 C #19/51
Income tax
100
Property tax
55
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
44

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 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler to see what you'd need to earn in Texarkana to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Texarkana
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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