Providence-Warwick Yakima

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from Providence-Warwick to Yakima is less favorable: BEA regional price parity goes from 101.8 to 95.5 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent falls by $153/mo.

-$7,586
BLS median salary lower in Yakima
155 to 329
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
13.8:1 to 17.6:1
NCES student-teacher ratio
$554
DOL infant care higher / yr in Yakima

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
Less Favorable
Cost Index: 101.8 → 95.5
Rent Delta: -$153/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + 6% lower cost of living
  • + $153/mo cheaper rent (2BR)

Cons of Moving

  • - $8K lower median salary
  • - Higher violent crime rate
  • - Higher student-teacher ratios
  • - More environmental violations

Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP falls from 101.8 to 95.5, so each dollar covers more in Yakima (ratio 0.94). HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent drops $153/mo ($1,836/yr) from $1,527 in Providence-Warwick to $1,374 in Yakima.

Providence-Warwick still leads on 5 of 7 federal dimensions, the origin keeps the edge. Yakima sits #202 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). Providence-Warwick is #68/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Less Favorable. Override it with the dimension table below.

BLS OEWS median salary moves $7,586 lower ($77,588 → $70,002). Labor-market size: 683,510 tracked jobs at origin vs 90,310 at destination.

State retirement friendliness favors staying put: Rhode Island scores 54 (D, #35/51) vs Washington at 38 (F, #51/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
Providence-Warwick
Yakima
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 101.8
RPP 95.5
Yakima
Rent (2BR)
$1,527/mo
$1,374/mo
Yakima
Wages
$77,588
$70,002
Providence-Warwick
Crime
155 per 100K
329 per 100K
Providence-Warwick
Schools
13.8:1
17.6:1
Providence-Warwick
Childcare
$15,433/yr
$15,987/yr
Providence-Warwick
Environment
192 violations
2879 violations
Providence-Warwick

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 · Rhode Island
54 D #35/51
Income tax
68
Property tax
53
Estate tax
50
Healthcare
74
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 Providence-Warwick to see what you'd need to earn in Yakima to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Yakima
-

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