Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Palm Coast, FL
🏆 Boca Raton leads 10 of 19 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45
Population
97,980 ✓ Larger
Palm Coast
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$68,824
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,082
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
Households earn $26,746 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 65°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.1%)
Palm Coast, FL
Pros
Homes cost $314k less ($283,300 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $549/mo less ($1,621 vs $2,170)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.1%)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Cons
Median income trails Boca Raton by $26,746/yr
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Median Income
$26,746
$95,570 vs $68,824/yr
Palm Coast
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Palm Coast
Median Home Value
$314k less
$283,300 vs $597,100
Palm Coast
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Palm Coast, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $283,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $1,621⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $68,824 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 13.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 91.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | FLAGLER |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 65.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 87.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 51.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 ✓ Larger | 91,082 |
| Median Age | 47.1 | 50.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% | 77.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 17.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% | 29.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Palm Coast's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Palm Coast is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 10 of 19 categories. Boca Raton wins 10 and Palm Coast wins 9. 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 Boca Raton to Palm Coast or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $283,300 median home), income ($95,570 vs $68,824), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Palm Coast, FL are about 229 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.