Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Denton, TX
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 Denton leads 16 of 23 categories
Denton
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,921 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
54 ✓ Safer
Population
142,262 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Denton, TX
Pros
65% less violent crime than West Palm Beach
Rent averages $350/mo less ($1,264 vs $1,614)
Violent crime is well below the national average (204.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.8%)
Households earn $7,877 more per year on average
Homes cost $29k less ($296,100 vs $324,800)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 56°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 96°F
Cons
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,614/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Median income trails Denton by $7,877/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Denton
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Denton
Median Income
$7,877
$71,921 vs $64,044/yr
Denton
Violent Crime
65% lower
204.2 vs 575.8 per 100k
Denton
Median Home Value
$29k less
$296,100 vs $324,800
Denton
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.8% vs 6.2% unemployment
Denton
Summer Heat
5.9°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 90.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Denton, TX | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $296,100 ✓ Lower | $324,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,264 ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,921 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.7 min | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 65 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 54 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 83 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.5% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DENTON ISD | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.8°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.4" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,262 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 30.4 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 49.4% | 49.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.5% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.2% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Denton's cost of living index is 103.3 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Denton is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Denton leads 16 of 23 categories. Denton wins 16 and West Palm Beach wins 7. 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 Denton to West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($296,100 vs $324,800 median home), income ($71,921 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Denton, TX and West Palm Beach, FL are about 1,110 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.