Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Buckeye, AZ
VS
Palm Bay, FL
🏆 Buckeye leads 12 of 22 categories
Buckeye
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$94,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
44 ✓ Safer
Population
95,042
Palm Bay
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.8⚠ High
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.
Buckeye, AZ
Pros
Households earn $31,650 more per year on average
52% less violent crime than Palm Bay
Violent crime is well below the national average (166.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.0%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $341,700
Higher rents — median is $1,597/mo
Longer commutes — 32.5 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 107°F
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
Homes cost $116k less ($226,200 vs $341,700)
Rent averages $252/mo less ($1,345 vs $1,597)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 107°F
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 66°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Buckeye by $31,650/yr
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Buckeye
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 100.8 (100 = US avg)
Buckeye
Median Income
$31,650
$94,188 vs $62,538/yr
Buckeye
Violent Crime
52% lower
166.8 vs 347.2 per 100k
Buckeye
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.7% unemployment
Buckeye
Summer Heat
15.2°F warmer
July avg high 106.5°F vs 91.3°F
Palm Bay
Median Home Value
$116k less
$226,200 vs $341,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Buckeye, AZ | Palm Bay, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper | 100.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $341,700⚠ High | $226,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,597⚠ High | $1,345⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $94,188 ✓ Higher | $62,538 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.5 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 14.2% ✓ Higher | 7.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 41 ✓ Safer | 74 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 44 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 37 ✓ Safer | 48 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (72) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.2:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.9% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.2% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Litchfield Elementary District (4281) | BREVARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.1°F | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 106.5°F ✓ Warmer | 91.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 8.0" ✓ Drier | 60.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 95,042 | 121,513 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 41.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 85.3% ✓ Higher | 79.9% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 21.9% |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Buckeye's cost of living index is 100.0 vs Palm Bay's 100.8 (US average = 100).
Buckeye is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Buckeye leads 12 of 22 categories. Buckeye wins 12 and Palm Bay wins 10. 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 Buckeye to Palm Bay or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($341,700 vs $226,200 median home), income ($94,188 vs $62,538), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Buckeye, AZ and Palm Bay, FL are about 1,929 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.