Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Indio, CA
VS
Palm Coast, FL
🏆 Palm Coast leads 13 of 19 categories
Indio
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$68,436
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
89,616
Palm Coast
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$68,824 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,082 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Indio, CA
Pros
Rent averages $277/mo less ($1,344 vs $1,621)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 70°F vs 65°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $373,200
Higher unemployment (7.3% vs 4.1%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Palm Coast
Palm Coast, FL
Pros
Homes cost $90k less ($283,300 vs $373,200)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.2 pts lower (4.1%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 106°F
More college-educated — 26.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Indio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,621/mo
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Indio
Summer Heat
18.0°F warmer
July avg high 105.8°F vs 87.8°F
Palm Coast
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Palm Coast
Median Home Value
$90k less
$283,300 vs $373,200
Palm Coast
Unemployment
3.2 pp lower
4.1% vs 7.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Indio, CA | Palm Coast, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 107.9⚠ High | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $373,200⚠ High | $283,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,344⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,621⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $68,436 | $68,824 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.3%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.7% | 13.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 88 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 79 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (82) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.7:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.4% | 26.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 77.4% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Desert Sands Unified | FLAGLER |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.3°F ✓ Warmer | 65.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.8°F ✓ Warmer | 87.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 2.9" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 89,616 | 91,082 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.2 | 50.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.3% | 77.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 19.2% | 29.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Indio's cost of living index is 107.9 vs Palm Coast's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Palm Coast is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Palm Coast leads 13 of 19 categories. Indio wins 6 and Palm Coast wins 13. 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 Indio to Palm Coast or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($373,200 vs $283,300 median home), income ($68,436 vs $68,824), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Indio, CA and Palm Coast, FL are about 2,069 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.