Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
VS
Palm Bay, FL
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Augusta-Richmond County
Georgia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,492
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
201,615 ✓ Larger
Palm Bay
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$62,538 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
91
Population
121,513
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $84k less ($141,900 vs $226,200)
Rent averages $322/mo less ($1,023 vs $1,345)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
10% cheaper overall cost of living than Palm Bay
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.0)
Smaller class sizes — 14.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Palm Bay by $12,046/yr
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 5.7%)
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (5.7%)
Households earn $12,046 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 60°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,345/mo
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Augusta-Richmond County
Key Differences at a Glance
Augusta-Richmond County
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 91.0 vs 100.8 (100 = US avg)
Augusta-Richmond County
Median Home Value
$84k less
$141,900 vs $226,200
Palm Bay
Median Income
$12,046
$62,538 vs $50,492/yr
Palm Bay
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
5.7% vs 8.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Augusta-Richmond County, GA | Palm Bay, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.0 ✓ Cheaper | 100.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $141,900 ✓ Lower | $226,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,023 ✓ Lower | $1,345⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $50,492 | $62,538 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.3%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 7.0% | 7.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 74 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 91 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 48 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.8% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 87.7% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Richmond County | BREVARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.6°F | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 94.1°F ✓ Warmer | 91.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" ✓ Drier | 60.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 201,615 ✓ Larger | 121,513 |
| Median Age | 34.6 | 41.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 51.0% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.9% ✓ More | 21.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.5% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Augusta-Richmond County's cost of living index is 91.0 vs Palm Bay's 100.8 (US average = 100).
Augusta-Richmond County is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Augusta-Richmond County wins 10 and Palm Bay wins 10. 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 Augusta-Richmond County to Palm Bay or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($141,900 vs $226,200 median home), income ($50,492 vs $62,538), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Augusta-Richmond County, GA and Palm Bay, FL are about 382 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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