Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gresham, OR
VS
Palm Bay, FL
🏆 Palm Bay leads 18 of 23 categories
Gresham
Oregon
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,437 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
113,525
Palm Bay
Florida
18
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.
Gresham, OR
Pros
Households earn $6,899 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $411,700
Higher rents — median is $1,452/mo
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Palm Bay
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
Homes cost $186k less ($226,200 vs $411,700)
15% less violent crime than Gresham
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 47°F
Rent averages $107/mo less ($1,345 vs $1,452)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Gresham
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Gresham by $6,899/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Gresham
Median Income
$6,899
$69,437 vs $62,538/yr
Palm Bay
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 100.8 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Palm Bay
Violent Crime
15% lower
347.2 vs 410.2 per 100k
Palm Bay
Median Home Value
$186k less
$226,200 vs $411,700
Palm Bay
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 81.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gresham, OR | Palm Bay, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.6⚠ High | 100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $411,700⚠ High | $226,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,452⚠ High | $1,345⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $69,437 ✓ Higher | $62,538 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.5 min | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.2% ✓ 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 | 108⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (81) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.9:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 23.2% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 87.1% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Gresham-Barlow SD 10J | BREVARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 46.7°F | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.6°F | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.7" ✓ Drier | 60.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 113,525 | 121,513 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.3 | 41.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.3% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.4% ✓ More | 21.9% |
| Over 65 | 14.7% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gresham's cost of living index is 106.6 vs Palm Bay's 100.8 (US average = 100).
Palm Bay is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Palm Bay leads 18 of 23 categories. Gresham 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 Gresham to Palm Bay or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($411,700 vs $226,200 median home), income ($69,437 vs $62,538), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gresham, OR and Palm Bay, FL are about 2,573 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.