Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Irving, TX
VS
Palm Bay, FL
🏆 Irving leads 12 of 23 categories
Irving
Texas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,686 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
254,962 ✓ Larger
Palm Bay
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,538
Violent Crime Index
91
Population
121,513
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Irving, TX
Pros
21% less violent crime than Palm Bay
Households earn $14,148 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 40.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,423/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Palm Bay
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
Homes cost $33k less ($226,200 vs $259,500)
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 57°F
Rent averages $78/mo less ($1,345 vs $1,423)
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Irving
Cons
Median income trails Irving by $14,148/yr
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Irving
Median Income
$14,148
$76,686 vs $62,538/yr
Irving
Violent Crime
21% lower
275.4 vs 347.2 per 100k
Irving
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.1% vs 5.7% unemployment
Irving
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.6°F vs 91.3°F
Palm Bay
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.8 vs 103.3 (100 = US avg)
Palm Bay
Median Home Value
$33k less
$226,200 vs $259,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Irving, TX | Palm Bay, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High | 100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $259,500 | $226,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,423⚠ High | $1,345⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,686 ✓ Higher | $62,538 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% ✓ Higher | 7.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 105⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (109) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.5% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 79.7% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | IRVING ISD | BREVARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.5°F | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.6°F ✓ Warmer | 91.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 37.0" ✓ Drier | 60.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 254,962 ✓ Larger | 121,513 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 41.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 37.2% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 26.4% ✓ More | 21.9% |
| Over 65 | 8.3% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Irving's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Palm Bay's 100.8 (US average = 100).
Palm Bay is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Irving leads 12 of 23 categories. Irving wins 12 and Palm Bay wins 11. 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 Irving to Palm Bay or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($259,500 vs $226,200 median home), income ($76,686 vs $62,538), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Irving, TX and Palm Bay, FL are about 1,028 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.