Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Palm Bay, FL
🏆 Palm Bay leads 18 of 23 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
135,665 ✓ Larger
Palm Bay
Florida
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $358,400
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Property crime (2657.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Palm Bay
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
Homes cost $132k less ($226,200 vs $358,400)
15% less violent crime than Elizabeth
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 40°F
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Elizabeth
More college-educated — 22.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $2,599 more per year on average
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Palm Bay
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.8 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Palm Bay
Median Income
$2,599
$62,538 vs $59,939/yr
Palm Bay
Violent Crime
15% lower
347.2 vs 408.7 per 100k
Palm Bay
Median Home Value
$132k less
$226,200 vs $358,400
Palm Bay
Summer Heat
4.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Palm Bay, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High | $226,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High | $1,345⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 | $62,538 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 7.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | BREVARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" ✓ Drier | 60.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 ✓ Larger | 121,513 |
| Median Age | 35.7 | 41.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 21.9% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Palm Bay's 100.8 (US average = 100).
Palm Bay is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Palm Bay leads 18 of 23 categories. Elizabeth wins 5 and Palm Bay wins 18. 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 Elizabeth to Palm Bay or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $226,200 median home), income ($59,939 vs $62,538), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Palm Bay, FL are about 951 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.