Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Eugene, OR
VS
Palm Bay, FL
🏆 Palm Bay leads 14 of 23 categories
Eugene
Oregon
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,481
Violent Crime Index
84 ✓ Safer
Population
176,755 ✓ Larger
Palm Bay
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,538 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
91
Population
121,513
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Eugene, OR
Pros
8% less violent crime than Palm Bay
More college-educated — 44.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Rent averages $76/mo less ($1,269 vs $1,345)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $406,000
Property crime (3255.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.1% vs 5.7%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Palm Bay
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
Homes cost $180k less ($226,200 vs $406,000)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 48°F
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Eugene
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,345/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Eugene
Violent Crime
8% lower
317.9 vs 347.2 per 100k
Palm Bay
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.8 vs 103.8 (100 = US avg)
Palm Bay
Median Income
$1,057
$62,538 vs $61,481/yr
Palm Bay
Median Home Value
$180k less
$226,200 vs $406,000
Palm Bay
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.1% unemployment
Palm Bay
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 84.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Eugene, OR | Palm Bay, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.8⚠ High | 100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $406,000⚠ High | $226,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,269 ✓ Lower | $1,345⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,481 | $62,538 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.1%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 13.8% ✓ Higher | 7.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 155⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.1:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.2% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Eugene SD 4J | BREVARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.1°F | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.0°F | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.1" ✓ Drier | 60.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 176,755 ✓ Larger | 121,513 |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 41.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.8% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 21.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.2% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Eugene's cost of living index is 103.8 vs Palm Bay's 100.8 (US average = 100).
Palm Bay is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Palm Bay leads 14 of 23 categories. Eugene wins 9 and Palm Bay wins 14. 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 Eugene to Palm Bay or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($406,000 vs $226,200 median home), income ($61,481 vs $62,538), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Eugene, OR and Palm Bay, FL are about 2,584 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.