Worcester Augusta-Richmond County

Relocation analysis based on 7 federal data sources

Should you move?

Moving from Worcester to Augusta-Richmond County is neutral, depends on priorities: BEA regional price parity goes from 102.5 to 91.9 (US = 100), and HUD 2-bedroom rent falls by $488/mo.

-$14,658
BLS median salary lower in Augusta-Richmond County
309 to 300
violent crimes per 100K (FBI UCR, state-level)
12.3:1 to 14.4:1
NCES student-teacher ratio
$13,980
DOL infant care lower / yr in Augusta-Richmond County

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
Neutral, depends on priorities
Cost Index: 102.5 → 91.9
Rent Delta: -$488/mo

Pros of Moving

  • + 11% lower cost of living
  • + $488/mo cheaper rent (2BR)
  • + More affordable childcare

Cons of Moving

  • - $15K lower median salary
  • - Higher student-teacher ratios
  • - More environmental violations

Purchasing power opens up: BEA RPP falls from 102.5 to 91.9, so each dollar covers more in Augusta-Richmond County (ratio 0.90). HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent drops $488/mo ($5,856/yr) from $1,749 in Worcester to $1,261 in Augusta-Richmond County.

The seven-dimension ledger splits (4 destination wins · 3 origin wins); priorities decide this move. Augusta-Richmond County sits #137 of 387 metros on PlainRelocate livability (middle third). Worcester is #130/387 on the same ranking. Composite verdict: Neutral, depends on priorities. Override it with the dimension table below.

BLS OEWS median salary moves $14,658 lower ($79,342 → $64,684). Labor-market size: 337,180 tracked jobs at origin vs 219,950 at destination.

State retirement friendliness favors the destination: Georgia scores 68 (C, #10/51) vs Massachusetts at 45 (F, #48/51). Full state tax and healthcare sub-scores sit in the retirement desk below.

Dimension
Worcester
Augusta-Richmond County
Winner
Cost of Living
RPP 102.5
RPP 91.9
Augusta-Richmond County
Rent (2BR)
$1,749/mo
$1,261/mo
Augusta-Richmond County
Wages
$79,342
$64,684
Worcester
Crime
309 per 100K
300 per 100K
Augusta-Richmond County
Schools
12.3:1
14.4:1
Worcester
Childcare
$20,571/yr
$6,591/yr
Augusta-Richmond County
Environment
1140 violations
2771 violations
Worcester

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 · Massachusetts
45 F #48/51
Income tax
55
Property tax
65
Estate tax
50
Healthcare
84
Destination state · Georgia
68 C #10/51
Income tax
88
Property tax
74
Estate tax
100
Healthcare
48

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 Worcester to see what you'd need to earn in Augusta-Richmond County to maintain the same purchasing power.

Equivalent salary in Augusta-Richmond County
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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