State relocation profile · Federal data
Texas
Cost of living, fair-market rent, wages, safety, schools and childcare for Texas from federal sources.
- 97.1
- Cost index (US=100)
- $1,149
- 2BR rent / mo
- $68,700
- Median salary
- 53.3
- Life Score
The verdict
As of June 2026, Texas ranks #17 of 51 scored US states on the composite Life Score (53.3/100, D), with its strongest marks in environment and childcare.
- #17 of 51
- Life Score among scored states
- 53.3
- Life Score · D
- 97.1
- Cost of living (US=100)
- $68,700
- Median annual salary (BLS)
Weakest dimension: safety (30/100). State-level figures are a benchmark, individual metros can diverge sharply, so weigh each dimension against your own priorities.
According to PlainRelocate's state Life Score composite (BEA, BLS, HUD, FBI, NCES, DOL, and EPA inputs), Texas ranks #17 of 51 scored US states by Life Score (highest score = #1). Cost-of-living index 97.1 (100 = national average), median 2-bedroom rent $1,149/mo, median salary $68,700; Life Score 53.3/100 (D), strongest in environment and childcare.
Signature: Texas lists 26 MSAs in this dataset, a dense metro book for state-level averages.
Purchasing power sits mid-band: BEA RPP 97.1 between corpus terciles 93.3 and 100.7. HUD 2BR Fair Market Rent averages $1,149/mo statewide, against a BLS median salary of $68,700.
Composite Life Score 53.3/100 (D) puts Texas in the top third (#17 of 51).
Metro book is dense (26 MSAs); drill a named metro before treating the state average as a destination.
Life Score plate
Sheet TX · Texas 53.3/100 · D · #17 of 51
LIFE-D · RANK-UPPER · PHOTO-FINISH · RPP-PAR · LEAD-ENVIRO · BOOK-FULL
- LIFE-D Life Score D
- RANK-UPPER #17/51
- PHOTO-FINISH ±0.0 pts
- RPP-PAR RPP 97.1
- LEAD-ENVIRO Lead · environment
- BOOK-FULL 7/7 dims
Nearest Life Score peer: Minnesota (+ 0.0 pts)
Instrument codes from this state’s Life Score grade, corpus rank, peer gap, BEA RPP posture, lead dimension, and dimension book, not a moving recommendation.
Life Score neighbourhood around Texas
Lowest/highest poles plus states nearest Texas on composite Life Score. Full ladder: /rankings/.
Texas childcare costs
DOL state-average center rates for Texas (infant $7,566/yr leads the book).
Texas Life Score breakdown
Texas composites to 53.3/100 (D) across 7 of 7 dimensions; corpus place #17 of 51.
Texas - Life Score dimensions
Percentile vs all US states (100 = best in the nation for that dimension)
- Environment
Environment
84 /100
- Childcare
Childcare
80 /100
- Rent
Rent
56 /100
- Schools
Schools
56 /100
- Cost of living
Cost of living
48 /100
- Wages
Wages
44 /100
- Safety 30
Safety
30 /100
What this shows Texas's strongest dimensions are environment and childcare; its weakest among scored dims is safety at 30/100. Each dimension is a federal-data percentile; the composite folds 7 of 7 into one comparable figure.
States near Texas on cost or Life Score
Nearest neighbors to Texas on BEA RPP or composite Life Score, a different lens than the in-state metro list below.
Similar cost of living (BEA RPP)
Metros in Texas
Explore detailed relocation data for 26 metropolitan areas in Texas. Texas contains 26 metropolitan statistical areas in our dataset - Abilene, Amarillo, Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos and more - each with its own rent, wage and crime profile that can diverge sharply from the statewide average.
Abilene metro · Compare metros · Cost vs quality · Methodology
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, HUD Fair Market Rents, BLS OES, FBI UCR, NCES, DOL, EPA June 2026
Texas cost figures follow BEA Regional Price Parities and HUD Fair Market Rents; Texas wages and safety follow BLS OEWS and FBI UCR. Research use only, verify at the agency source before you move.