OUT OF STATE GUIDE · STATE COMPARISON
Your states. Side by side.
Choose two or three states. See the numbers. Find your trade-offs.
Which states are on your shortlist?
All 50 states availableTap a state to add or remove it. Use the state picker for small states.
Keyboard: arrow keys, then Enter. Up to three states.
Alaska and Hawaii shown as insets.
Choose a state to begin.
A clearer picture of your next move.
Start with your current state, then add a place you’re considering. Only your chosen states will appear below.
YOUR COMPARISON
Win = best result in the direction shown, among your selected states. Loss = the other result with two states, or last place with three. A middle result is labeled Middle. Ties stay tied. Each of the six measures counts once; this is not an overall best-state score.
View the figures in a simple table
Put the numbers into your plan.
Statewide figures are a starting point. Check the cities and neighborhoods you’re considering.
Sources, dates & what these numbers mean
Checking OSG’s central dataset. A saved snapshot is available.
Reference periods: BEA 2024 Regional Price Parities; Census ACS 2020–2024 five-year estimates; BLS 2024 annual unemployment averages. Snapshot retrieved October 8, 2026. State records report September 18, 2026 as their update date.
- BEA Regional Price Parities: overall prices, with the U.S. average equal to 100.
- Census American Community Survey: rent, home value, household income, homeownership and commute.
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics: unemployment.
Median gross rent includes applicable tenant-paid utilities. Home values are owner estimates, not current listings. Household income may include multiple earners; it is not an individual salary offer. Statewide differences do not predict your personal costs or job prospects.
For this comparison, lower living costs, rent, home values, unemployment and commute times win; higher household income wins. Outcomes use the displayed precision, so visibly equal values tie. A shared lead counts for each tied state. Homeownership appears for context in the table and is not scored. Related measures can overlap, so the category tally is not a weighted quality-of-life rating.
This version does not compare taxes, schools, crime, childcare or climate. Save choices stores only your selected states in this browser on this device. No account is needed; clearing browser data removes saved choices.