Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cincinnati, OH
VS
Palm Bay, FL
🏆 Palm Bay leads 13 of 23 categories
Cincinnati
Ohio
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,191
Violent Crime Index
223⚠ High
Population
308,870 ✓ Larger
Palm Bay
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.8⚠ High
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.
Cincinnati, OH
Pros
Rent averages $452/mo less ($893 vs $1,345)
Homes cost $34k less ($192,000 vs $226,200)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 94.1)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Palm Bay
Cons
Violent crime (845.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Palm Bay by $13,347/yr
Property crime (3829.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 5.7%)
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
59% less violent crime than Cincinnati
Households earn $13,347 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (5.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 41°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,345/mo
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Cincinnati
Key Differences at a Glance
Cincinnati
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 94.1 vs 100.8 (100 = US avg)
Cincinnati
Median Home Value
$34k less
$192,000 vs $226,200
Palm Bay
Median Income
$13,347
$62,538 vs $49,191/yr
Palm Bay
Violent Crime
59% lower
347.2 vs 845.6 per 100k
Palm Bay
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.9% unemployment
Palm Bay
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 86.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cincinnati, OH | Palm Bay, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.1 ✓ Cheaper | 100.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $192,000 ✓ Lower | $226,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $893 ✓ Lower | $1,345⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,191 | $62,538 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.9%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.4 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 11.5% ✓ Higher | 7.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 206⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 223⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 182⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 89.1% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cincinnati Public Schools | BREVARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.6°F | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.6°F | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.4" ✓ Drier | 60.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 16.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 308,870 ✓ Larger | 121,513 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 41.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.3% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.0% | 21.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.9% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cincinnati's cost of living index is 94.1 vs Palm Bay's 100.8 (US average = 100).
Cincinnati is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Palm Bay leads 13 of 23 categories. Cincinnati wins 10 and Palm Bay wins 13. 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 Cincinnati to Palm Bay or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($192,000 vs $226,200 median home), income ($49,191 vs $62,538), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cincinnati, OH and Palm Bay, FL are about 803 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.