Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alafaya, FL
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 Alafaya leads 11 of 19 categories
Alafaya
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,251 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,531
West Palm Beach
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alafaya, FL
Pros
Households earn $29,207 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.4%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
More college-educated — 47.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $361,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Longer commutes — 30.9 min average each way
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Homes cost $37k less ($324,800 vs $361,800)
Rent averages $154/mo less ($1,614 vs $1,768)
Smaller class sizes — 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Alafaya by $29,207/yr
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Alafaya
Key Differences at a Glance
Alafaya
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 101.1 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Alafaya
Median Income
$29,207
$93,251 vs $64,044/yr
Alafaya
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
West Palm Beach
Median Home Value
$37k less
$324,800 vs $361,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alafaya, FL | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $361,800⚠ High | $324,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High | $1,614⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,251 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 16.2% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 132⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 152⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 102⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.9% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.5% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ORANGE | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.2°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.2" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,531 | 117,588 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.4% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.1% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alafaya's cost of living index is 101.1 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Alafaya is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Alafaya leads 11 of 19 categories. Alafaya wins 11 and West Palm Beach wins 8. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Alafaya to West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($361,800 vs $324,800 median home), income ($93,251 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alafaya, FL and West Palm Beach, FL are about 139 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.