Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Anaheim, CA
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 West Palm Beach leads 16 of 22 categories
Anaheim
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,538 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
157⚠ High
Population
347,111 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Anaheim, CA
Pros
Households earn $24,494 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (5.4%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $713,600
Violent crime (596.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,958/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Homes cost $389k less ($324,800 vs $713,600)
Rent averages $344/mo less ($1,614 vs $1,958)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Anaheim
Cons
Median income trails Anaheim by $24,494/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)
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Anaheim
Median Income
$24,494
$88,538 vs $64,044/yr
Anaheim
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
5.4% vs 6.2% unemployment
West Palm Beach
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
West Palm Beach
Violent Crime
3% lower
575.8 vs 596.2 per 100k
West Palm Beach
Median Home Value
$389k less
$324,800 vs $713,600
West Palm Beach
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 86.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Anaheim, CA | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $713,600⚠ High | $324,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,958⚠ High | $1,614⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,538 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.4 min⚠ High | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 135⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 157⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 102⚠ High | 102⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (74) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.0:1 | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 28.1% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.8% | 86.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Anaheim Elementary | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.0°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.8°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.2" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 347,111 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 35.4 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 49.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Anaheim's cost of living index is 115.5 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
West Palm Beach is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, West Palm Beach leads 16 of 22 categories. Anaheim wins 6 and West Palm Beach wins 16. 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 Anaheim to West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($713,600 vs $324,800 median home), income ($88,538 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Anaheim, CA and West Palm Beach, FL are about 2,285 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.