Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brockton, MA
VS
Palm Bay, FL
🏆 Palm Bay leads 19 of 23 categories
Brockton
Massachusetts
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,016 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
158⚠ High
Population
104,713
Palm Bay
Florida
19
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.
Brockton, MA
Pros
Households earn $11,478 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $364,700
Violent crime (599.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Palm Bay
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
Homes cost $139k less ($226,200 vs $364,700)
42% less violent crime than Brockton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 39°F
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Brockton
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Brockton by $11,478/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Brockton
Median Income
$11,478
$74,016 vs $62,538/yr
Palm Bay
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.8 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Palm Bay
Violent Crime
42% lower
347.2 vs 599.2 per 100k
Palm Bay
Median Home Value
$139k less
$226,200 vs $364,700
Palm Bay
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 8.2% unemployment
Palm Bay
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 84.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brockton, MA | Palm Bay, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.6⚠ High | 100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $364,700⚠ High | $226,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,446⚠ High | $1,345⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,016 ✓ Higher | $62,538 |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.2%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 5.5% | 7.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 120⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 158⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (87) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.7% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.8% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Brockton | BREVARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.7°F | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.2°F | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.2" ✓ Drier | 60.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 104,713 | 121,513 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 41.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.4% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.0% ✓ More | 21.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brockton's cost of living index is 111.6 vs Palm Bay's 100.8 (US average = 100).
Palm Bay is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Palm Bay leads 19 of 23 categories. Brockton 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 Brockton to Palm Bay or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($364,700 vs $226,200 median home), income ($74,016 vs $62,538), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brockton, MA and Palm Bay, FL are about 1,116 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.