Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arden-Arcade, CA
VS
Palm Bay, FL
🏆 Palm Bay leads 14 of 22 categories
Arden-Arcade
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,479 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
96,076
Palm Bay
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,538
Violent Crime Index
91 ✓ Safer
Population
121,513 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Arden-Arcade, CA
Pros
More college-educated — 36.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $466,300
Violent crime (518.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (8.1% vs 5.7%)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Palm Bay
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
Homes cost $240k less ($226,200 vs $466,300)
33% less violent crime than Arden-Arcade
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (5.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 57°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Arden-Arcade
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Arden-Arcade
Median Income
$1,941
$64,479 vs $62,538/yr
Arden-Arcade
Summer Heat
3.1°F warmer
July avg high 94.4°F vs 91.3°F
Palm Bay
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 100.8 vs 108.9 (100 = US avg)
Palm Bay
Violent Crime
33% lower
347.2 vs 518.1 per 100k
Palm Bay
Median Home Value
$240k less
$226,200 vs $466,300
Palm Bay
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
5.7% vs 8.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arden-Arcade, CA | Palm Bay, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High | 100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $466,300⚠ High | $226,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High | $1,345⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,479 ✓ Higher | $62,538 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.1%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 7.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 119⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.6:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.3% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | San Juan Unified | BREVARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.4°F ✓ Warmer | 91.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 21.5" ✓ Drier | 60.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 96,076 | 121,513 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 41.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.9% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 21.9% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arden-Arcade's cost of living index is 108.9 vs Palm Bay's 100.8 (US average = 100).
Palm Bay is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Palm Bay leads 14 of 22 categories. Arden-Arcade wins 8 and Palm Bay wins 14. 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 Arden-Arcade to Palm Bay or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($466,300 vs $226,200 median home), income ($64,479 vs $62,538), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arden-Arcade, CA and Palm Bay, FL are about 2,442 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.