Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boulder, CO
VS
Palm Bay, FL
🏆 Palm Bay leads 14 of 23 categories
Boulder
Colorado
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$80,243 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
85 ✓ Safer
Population
106,598
Palm Bay
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,538
Violent Crime Index
91
Population
121,513 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boulder, CO
Pros
More college-educated — 76.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $17,705 more per year on average
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $919,700
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Property crime (2733.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Palm Bay
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
Homes cost $694k less ($226,200 vs $919,700)
Rent averages $508/mo less ($1,345 vs $1,853)
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 47°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Boulder
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Boulder by $17,705/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Boulder
Median Income
$17,705
$80,243 vs $62,538/yr
Boulder
Violent Crime
7% lower
322.3 vs 347.2 per 100k
Palm Bay
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 100.8 vs 107.2 (100 = US avg)
Palm Bay
Median Home Value
$694k less
$226,200 vs $919,700
Palm Bay
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 88.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boulder, CO | Palm Bay, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.2⚠ High | 100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $919,700⚠ High | $226,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,853⚠ High | $1,345⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $80,243 ✓ Higher | $62,538 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 28.0% ✓ Higher | 7.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 103⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 85 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 130⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 76.6% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 96.9% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Boulder Valley School District No. Re2 | BREVARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.0°F | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.0°F | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 19.7" ✓ Drier | 60.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 85.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,598 | 121,513 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.5 | 41.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.2% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 11.7% | 21.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boulder's cost of living index is 107.2 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 14 of 23 categories. Boulder wins 9 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 Boulder to Palm Bay or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($919,700 vs $226,200 median home), income ($80,243 vs $62,538), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boulder, CO and Palm Bay, FL are about 1,629 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.