Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Beaverton, OR
VS
Palm Bay, FL
🏆 Palm Bay leads 15 of 23 categories
Beaverton
Oregon
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,899 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96
Population
97,554
Palm Bay
Florida
15
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.
Beaverton, OR
Pros
Households earn $26,361 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.9%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $494,700
Higher rents — median is $1,663/mo
Property crime (2661.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Palm Bay
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
Homes cost $269k less ($226,200 vs $494,700)
Rent averages $318/mo less ($1,345 vs $1,663)
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 49°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Beaverton
Cons
Median income trails Beaverton by $26,361/yr
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Beaverton
Median Income
$26,361
$88,899 vs $62,538/yr
Beaverton
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.7% unemployment
Palm Bay
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 100.8 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Palm Bay
Violent Crime
5% lower
347.2 vs 364.8 per 100k
Palm Bay
Median Home Value
$269k less
$226,200 vs $494,700
Palm Bay
Summer Heat
9.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 82.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Beaverton, OR | Palm Bay, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $494,700⚠ High | $226,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,663⚠ High | $1,345⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $88,899 ✓ Higher | $62,538 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 17.7% ✓ Higher | 7.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 108⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.3:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 48.3% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.5% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Beaverton SD 48J | BREVARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.7°F | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.3°F | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.0" ✓ Drier | 60.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,554 | 121,513 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.7 | 41.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 50.3% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.0% | 21.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.4% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Beaverton's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Palm Bay's 100.8 (US average = 100).
Palm Bay is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Palm Bay leads 15 of 23 categories. Beaverton wins 8 and Palm Bay wins 15. 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 Beaverton to Palm Bay or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($494,700 vs $226,200 median home), income ($88,899 vs $62,538), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Beaverton, OR and Palm Bay, FL are about 2,591 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.