Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Palm Bay, FL
🏆 Palm Bay leads 16 of 22 categories
Fairfield
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420
Palm Bay
Florida
16
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.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $36,319 more per year on average
More college-educated — 27.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $546,200
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Palm Bay
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
Homes cost $320k less ($226,200 vs $546,200)
Rent averages $702/mo less ($1,345 vs $2,047)
30% less violent crime than Fairfield
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 57°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Fairfield
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $36,319/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Median Income
$36,319
$98,857 vs $62,538/yr
Palm Bay
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 100.8 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Palm Bay
Violent Crime
30% lower
347.2 vs 498.0 per 100k
Palm Bay
Median Home Value
$320k less
$226,200 vs $546,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Palm Bay, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High | 100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $226,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,345⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $62,538 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 7.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | BREVARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 60.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 121,513 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 41.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 21.9% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Palm Bay's 100.8 (US average = 100).
Palm Bay is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Palm Bay leads 16 of 22 categories. Fairfield wins 6 and Palm Bay wins 16. 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 Fairfield to Palm Bay or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $226,200 median home), income ($98,857 vs $62,538), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Palm Bay, FL are about 2,475 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.