Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Palmdale, CA
🏆 Boca Raton leads 15 of 22 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
Palmdale
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High
Population
166,895 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
69% less violent crime than Palmdale
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 20 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $17,156 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (5.9%)
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)
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Homes cost $200k less ($397,500 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $545/mo less ($1,625 vs $2,170)
Cons
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Boca Raton by $17,156/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher unemployment (7.4% vs 5.9%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Boca Raton
Median Income
$17,156
$95,570 vs $78,414/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
69% lower
171.0 vs 551.0 per 100k
Boca Raton
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.4% unemployment
Palmdale
Median Home Value
$200k less
$397,500 vs $597,100
Palmdale
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 90.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Palmdale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $397,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $1,625⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $78,414 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 41.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 7.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C- (59) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.2:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 16.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 76.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | Palmdale Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 59.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 7.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 166,895 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 33.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% | 66.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 29.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Palmdale's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Boca Raton is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 15 of 22 categories. Boca Raton wins 15 and Palmdale wins 7. 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 Palmdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $397,500 median home), income ($95,570 vs $78,414), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Palmdale, CA are about 2,318 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.