Wausau Goldsboro

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Verdict
Less Favorable
Cost Index: 92.7 → 88.5
Rent Delta: +$97/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + 4% lower cost of living
  • + More affordable childcare

Cons of Moving

  • - $97/mo more expensive rent (2BR)
  • - $7K lower median salary
  • - Higher violent crime rate
  • - Higher student-teacher ratios

Moving from Wausau to Goldsboro shifts your BEA Regional Price Parity from 92.7 to 88.5 (100 = US average), so a Wausau salary needs to be multiplied by 0.95 to hold the same purchasing power in Goldsboro. On rent, HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom goes from $1,147/month in Wausau to $1,244/month in Goldsboro - a higher monthly bill of $97, or $1,164/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 $63,772 in Wausau versus $56,464 in Goldsboro - a raw gap of $7,308 lower. The Goldsboro labor market has 34,170 tracked jobs against 63,730 in Wausau, 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 Wausau and Goldsboro are 280 and 365 per 100,000 (state-level). NCES student-teacher ratios run 14.4:1 at origin versus 15.8:1 at destination. DOL center-based infant care costs $11,256/year in Wausau versus $9,487/year in Goldsboro. Our composite verdict - Less Favorable - weighs all seven federal sources; the dimension table below lets you override that with your personal priorities.

Dimension
Wausau
Goldsboro
Winner
💰 Cost of Living
RPP 92.7
RPP 88.5
Goldsboro
🏠 Rent (2BR)
$1,147/mo
$1,244/mo
Wausau
💼 Wages
$63,772
$56,464
Wausau
🔒 Crime
280 per 100K
365 per 100K
Wausau
🎓 Schools
14.4:1
15.8:1
Wausau
👶 Childcare
$11,256/yr
$9,487/yr
Goldsboro
🌿 Environment
2233 violations
2788 violations
Wausau

Salary Adjustment Calculator

Enter your current salary in Wausau to see what you'd need to earn in Goldsboro to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Goldsboro
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Goldsboro more expensive than Wausau?
Goldsboro has an RPP of 88.5 compared to Wausau's 92.7 (100 = national average). Wausau is more expensive overall. The 2BR rent in Goldsboro is $1,244/mo vs $1,147/mo in Wausau.
What are salaries like in Goldsboro compared to Wausau?
The median salary in Goldsboro is $56,464 compared to $63,772 in Wausau. That's a -$7,308 difference.
Is Goldsboro safer than Wausau?
The violent crime rate near Goldsboro is 365 per 100K vs 280 per 100K near Wausau (state-level data). Wausau has a lower crime rate.
How much would I need to earn in Goldsboro to match my Wausau salary?
To maintain the same purchasing power, multiply your Wausau salary by 0.95. For example, a $75,000 salary in Wausau would need to be $71,609 in Goldsboro. 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)