Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Palm Bay, FL
🏆 Palm Bay leads 15 of 22 categories
Costa Mesa
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490
Palm Bay
Florida
15
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.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Households earn $42,443 more per year on average
More college-educated — 42.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (5.0%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $959,800
Higher rents — median is $2,268/mo
Violent crime (737.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
Homes cost $734k less ($226,200 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $923/mo less ($1,345 vs $2,268)
53% less violent crime than Costa Mesa
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 67°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $42,443/yr
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$42,443
$104,981 vs $62,538/yr
Costa Mesa
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
5.0% vs 5.7% unemployment
Palm Bay
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Palm Bay
Violent Crime
53% lower
347.2 vs 737.6 per 100k
Palm Bay
Median Home Value
$734k less
$226,200 vs $959,800
Palm Bay
Summer Heat
12.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Palm Bay, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $226,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,345⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $62,538 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 7.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | BREVARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 60.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 | 121,513 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 41.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 21.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Palm Bay's 100.8 (US average = 100).
Palm Bay is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Palm Bay leads 15 of 22 categories. Costa Mesa wins 7 and Palm Bay wins 15. 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 Costa Mesa to Palm Bay or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $226,200 median home), income ($104,981 vs $62,538), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Palm Bay, FL are about 2,233 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.