Tuscaloosa Canton-Massillon

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from Tuscaloosa to Canton-Massillon is favorable: BEA regional price parity goes from 87.7 to 89.4 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent falls by $54/mo.

+$2,052
BLS median salary higher in Canton-Massillon
376 to 293
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
17.7:1 to 18.2:1
NCES student-teacher ratio
$4,895
DOL infant care higher / yr in Canton-Massillon

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: 87.7 → 89.4
Rent Delta: -$54/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + $54/mo cheaper rent (2BR)
  • + $2K higher median salary
  • + Lower violent crime rate

Cons of Moving

  • - More expensive childcare
  • - More environmental violations

Purchasing power stays near-even: BEA RPP moves only from 87.7 to 89.4 (ratio 1.02), inside a ±5% band. HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent drops $54/mo ($648/yr) from $1,140 in Tuscaloosa to $1,086 in Canton-Massillon.

The seven-dimension ledger splits (3 destination wins · 4 origin wins); priorities decide this move. Canton-Massillon sits #207 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). Tuscaloosa is #57/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Favorable. Override it with the dimension table below.

BLS OEWS median salary moves $2,052 higher ($58,026 → $60,078). Labor-market size: 96,660 tracked jobs at origin vs 155,600 at destination.

State retirement friendliness favors staying put: Alabama scores 75 (B, #5/51) vs Ohio at 59 (D, #29/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
Tuscaloosa
Canton-Massillon
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 87.7
RPP 89.4
Tuscaloosa
Rent (2BR)
$1,140/mo
$1,086/mo
Canton-Massillon
Wages
$58,026
$60,078
Canton-Massillon
Crime
376 per 100K
293 per 100K
Canton-Massillon
Schools
17.7:1
18.2:1
Tuscaloosa
Childcare
$6,896/yr
$11,791/yr
Tuscaloosa
Environment
538 violations
1500 violations
Tuscaloosa

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 · Alabama
75 B #5/51
Income tax
90
Property tax
92
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
20
Destination state · Ohio
59 D #29/51
Income tax
72
Property tax
57
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
10

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 Tuscaloosa to see what you'd need to earn in Canton-Massillon to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Canton-Massillon
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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