[Note: Rebecca Ryan is on the board of the Council on Community and Economic Research (C2ER), the organization that organizes, analyzes and distributes Cost of Living Data.]
Several times a year, all on the same day, volunteers across the United States go looking for the price of boys’ underwear in their community, or the monthly tab for cable TV. They mobilize so that they can compare their cost of living against other cities. This is an important tool for cities; the Cost of Living Index is recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau, US Bureau of Labor Statistics, CNN Money, and the President’s Council of Economic Advisors
We use the Cost of Living Index (COLI) in our handprinting process, but unfortunately there are some cities that don’t collect their data because they don’t have a willing volunteer. If you live in one of the “Missing MSAs” listed below - and would like to volunteer to collect data in your community - contact Dean Frutiger at dfrutiger@c2er.org or 703-522-4980, ext. 1021. Volunteer data collectors get a free copy of the publication and discounted licensing fee for the COLI Calculator.
COLI Missing MSAs:
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area
Altoona, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Athens-Clarke County, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Atlantic City, NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area
Bangor, ME Metropolitan Statistical Area
Barnstable Town, MA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Battle Creek, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area
Bay City, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area
Bend, OR Metropolitan Statistical Area
Boulder, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area
Bremerton-Silverdale, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Brunswick, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Canton-Massillon, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area
Carson City, NV Metropolitan Statistical Area
Casper, WY Metropolitan Statistical Area
Chico, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Coeur d’Alene, ID Metropolitan Statistical Area
College Station-Bryan, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area
Columbus, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area
Corvallis, OR Metropolitan Statistical Area
Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area
Dalton, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area
Duluth, MN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area
El Centro, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Elizabethtown, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area
Elmira, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area
Flint, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area
Fond du Lac, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area
Fort Collins-Loveland, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area
Fort Walton Beach-Crestview-Destin, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area
Gadsden, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area
Gainesville, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Glens Falls, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area
Goldsboro, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area
Grand Forks, ND-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area
Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area
Greeley, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area
Greensboro-High Point, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS Metropolitan Statistical Area
Hanford-Corcoran, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area
Hinesville-Fort Stewart, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Holland-Grand Haven, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area
Jackson, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area
Kankakee-Bradley, IL Metropolitan Statistical Area
Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Kingston, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area
Kokomo, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area
La Crosse, WI-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area
Lakeland, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area
Lansing-East Lansing, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area
Laredo, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area
Lebanon, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Lewiston, ID-WA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Lewiston-Auburn, ME Metropolitan Statistical Area
Longview, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area
Longview, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Macon, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Madera, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Medford, OR Metropolitan Statistical Area
Merced, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Michigan City-La Porte, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area
Modesto, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Monroe, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area
Napa, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Naples-Marco Island, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area
New Haven-Milford, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area
New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Niles-Benton Harbor, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area
Norwich-New London, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area
Ocala, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area
Ocean City, NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area
Ogden-Clearfield, UT Metropolitan Statistical Area
Oshkosh-Neenah, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area
Owensboro, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area
Panama City-Lynn Haven, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area
Parkersburg-Marietta-Vienna, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area
Pine Bluff, AR Metropolitan Statistical Area
Pocatello, ID Metropolitan Statistical Area
Port St. Lucie-Fort Pierce, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area
Provo-Orem, UT Metropolitan Statistical Area
Racine, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area
Rapid City, SD Metropolitan Statistical Area
Reading, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Redding, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Rocky Mount, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area
Rome, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Saginaw-Saginaw Township North, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area
Salem, OR Metropolitan Statistical Area
Salinas, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Salisbury, MD Metropolitan Statistical Area
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Sandusky, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area
Santa Barbara-Santa Maria, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Scranton—Wilkes-Barre, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Sheboygan, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area
Spartanburg, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area
Springfield, MA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Springfield, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area
State College, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Stockton, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Syracuse, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area
Tallahassee, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area
Toledo, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area
Trenton-Ewing, NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area
Utica-Rome, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton, NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area
Visalia-Porterville, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Warner Robins, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area
Wenatchee, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Wheeling, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area
Worcester, MA Metropolitan Statistical Area
Yuba City, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area
