Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Palm Bay, FL
🏆 Palm Bay leads 12 of 22 categories
Carlsbad
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52 ✓ Safer
Population
114,745
Palm Bay
Florida
12
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.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $71,601 more per year on average
43% less violent crime than Palm Bay
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Palm Bay
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
Homes cost $844k less ($226,200 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $1132/mo less ($1,345 vs $2,477)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 65°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $71,601/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Median Income
$71,601
$134,139 vs $62,538/yr
Carlsbad
Violent Crime
43% lower
199.1 vs 347.2 per 100k
Palm Bay
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.8 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Palm Bay
Median Home Value
$844k less
$226,200 vs $1,070,500
Palm Bay
Summer Heat
17.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Palm Bay, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High | 100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $226,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,345⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $62,538 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 7.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 74 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | BREVARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 60.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 | 121,513 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 ✓ Older | 41.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 21.9% |
| Over 65 | 17.8% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Palm Bay's 100.8 (US average = 100).
Palm Bay is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Palm Bay leads 12 of 22 categories. Carlsbad wins 10 and Palm Bay wins 12. 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 Carlsbad to Palm Bay or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $226,200 median home), income ($134,139 vs $62,538), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Palm Bay, FL are about 2,197 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.