Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bridgeport, CT
VS
Palm Bay, FL
🏆 Palm Bay leads 19 of 23 categories
Bridgeport
Connecticut
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,440
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
148,470 ✓ Larger
Palm Bay
Florida
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,538 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
91 ✓ Safer
Population
121,513
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bridgeport, CT
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Palm Bay by $8,098/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 5.7%)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Palm Bay
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (5.7%)
12% less violent crime than Bridgeport
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 38°F
Households earn $8,098 more per year on average
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Bridgeport
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Palm Bay
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 100.8 vs 106.5 (100 = US avg)
Palm Bay
Median Income
$8,098
$62,538 vs $54,440/yr
Palm Bay
Violent Crime
12% lower
347.2 vs 392.9 per 100k
Palm Bay
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
5.7% vs 9.5% unemployment
Palm Bay
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 83.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bridgeport, CT | Palm Bay, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High | 100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $227,200 | $226,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,369⚠ High | $1,345⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,440 | $62,538 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.9 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 6.0% | 7.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 90 | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 103⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 24.7% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 80.0% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bridgeport School District | BREVARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 83.4°F | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.1" ✓ Drier | 60.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,470 ✓ Larger | 121,513 |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 41.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.2% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.7% | 21.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bridgeport's cost of living index is 106.5 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 19 of 23 categories. Bridgeport wins 4 and Palm Bay wins 19. 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 Bridgeport to Palm Bay or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($227,200 vs $226,200 median home), income ($54,440 vs $62,538), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bridgeport, CT and Palm Bay, FL are about 1,006 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.