Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hemet, CA
VS
Palm Bay, FL
🏆 Palm Bay leads 18 of 22 categories
Hemet
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$49,901
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
89,651
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 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hemet, CA
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Median income trails Palm Bay by $12,637/yr
Higher unemployment (9.5% vs 5.7%)
Longer commutes — 36.8 min average each way
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Palm Bay
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (5.7%)
18% less violent crime than Hemet
Households earn $12,637 more per year on average
Homes cost $51k less ($226,200 vs $277,200)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 22.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Hemet
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.1°F vs 91.3°F
Palm Bay
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 100.8 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Palm Bay
Median Income
$12,637
$62,538 vs $49,901/yr
Palm Bay
Violent Crime
18% lower
347.2 vs 424.8 per 100k
Palm Bay
Median Home Value
$51k less
$226,200 vs $277,200
Palm Bay
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
5.7% vs 9.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hemet, CA | Palm Bay, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $277,200 | $226,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,357⚠ High | $1,345⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,901 | $62,538 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.5%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 36.8 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 7.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 98 | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 78 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (78) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.9:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 13.9% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 79.9% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hemet Unified | BREVARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.8°F | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.1°F ✓ Warmer | 91.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 12.2" ✓ Drier | 60.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,651 | 121,513 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.0 | 41.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 61.1% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.1% ✓ More | 21.9% |
| Over 65 | 22.4% ✓ More | 19.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hemet's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Palm Bay's 100.8 (US average = 100).
Palm Bay is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Palm Bay leads 18 of 22 categories. Hemet wins 4 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 Hemet to Palm Bay or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($277,200 vs $226,200 median home), income ($49,901 vs $62,538), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hemet, CA and Palm Bay, FL are about 2,181 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.