Spartanburg Kennewick-Richland

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from Spartanburg to Kennewick-Richland is unfavorable: BEA regional price parity goes from 91.1 to 100.1 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent rises by $351/mo.

+$15,780
BLS median salary higher in Kennewick-Richland
439 to 329
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
14.3:1 to 17.6:1
NCES student-teacher ratio
$8,255
DOL infant care higher / yr in Kennewick-Richland

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: 91.1 → 100.1
Rent Delta: +$351/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + $16K higher median salary
  • + Lower violent crime rate

Cons of Moving

  • - 9% higher cost of living
  • - $351/mo more expensive rent (2BR)
  • - Higher student-teacher ratios
  • - More expensive childcare
  • - More environmental violations

Purchasing power tightens: BEA RPP rises from 91.1 to 100.1, so the same paycheck buys less in Kennewick-Richland (ratio 1.10). HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent rises $351/mo ($4,212/yr) from $1,187 in Spartanburg to $1,538 in Kennewick-Richland.

Spartanburg still leads on 5 of 7 federal dimensions, the origin keeps the edge. Kennewick-Richland sits #195 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). Spartanburg is #13/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Unfavorable. Override it with the dimension table below.

BLS OEWS median salary moves $15,780 higher ($63,034 → $78,814). Labor-market size: 158,460 tracked jobs at origin vs 120,710 at destination.

State retirement friendliness favors staying put: South Carolina scores 80 (A, #3/51) vs Washington at 38 (F, #51/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
Spartanburg
Kennewick-Richland
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 91.1
RPP 100.1
Spartanburg
Rent (2BR)
$1,187/mo
$1,538/mo
Spartanburg
Wages
$63,034
$78,814
Kennewick-Richland
Crime
439 per 100K
329 per 100K
Kennewick-Richland
Schools
14.3:1
17.6:1
Spartanburg
Childcare
$7,732/yr
$15,987/yr
Spartanburg
Environment
720 violations
2879 violations
Spartanburg

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 · South Carolina
80 A #3/51
Income tax
85
Property tax
87
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
56
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 Spartanburg to see what you'd need to earn in Kennewick-Richland to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Kennewick-Richland
-

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