Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Houston, TX
VS
Palm Bay, FL
🏆 Palm Bay leads 12 of 21 categories
Houston
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Palm Bay
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.8⚠ High
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.
Houston, TX
Pros
More college-educated — 35.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $110/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,345)
Cons
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 5.7%)
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
70% less violent crime than Houston
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (5.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 63°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,345/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Houston
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 100.8 (100 = US avg)
Palm Bay
Median Income
$2,098
$62,538 vs $60,440/yr
Palm Bay
Violent Crime
70% lower
347.2 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Palm Bay
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Houston, TX | Palm Bay, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 100.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $235,000 | $226,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,235 ✓ Lower | $1,345⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,440 | $62,538 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.6%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.4 min | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 7.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 263⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 302⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 204⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 35.2% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 79.6% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HOUSTON ISD | BREVARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 62.8°F | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer | 91.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.4" ✓ Drier | 60.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger | 121,513 |
| Median Age | 33.9 | 41.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.0% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.9% ✓ More | 21.9% |
| Over 65 | 11.6% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Houston's cost of living index is 100.2 vs Palm Bay's 100.8 (US average = 100).
Houston is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Palm Bay leads 12 of 21 categories. Houston wins 9 and Palm Bay wins 12. 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 Houston to Palm Bay or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($235,000 vs $226,200 median home), income ($60,440 vs $62,538), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Houston, TX and Palm Bay, FL are about 899 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.