Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Los Angeles, CA
VS
Palm Bay, FL
🏆 Palm Bay leads 16 of 22 categories
Los Angeles
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$76,244 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
192⚠ High
Population
3,881,041 ✓ Larger
Palm Bay
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,538
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.
Los Angeles, CA
Pros
Households earn $13,706 more per year on average
More college-educated — 36.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $822,600
Violent crime (728.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,791/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
Homes cost $596k less ($226,200 vs $822,600)
52% less violent crime than Los Angeles
Rent averages $446/mo less ($1,345 vs $1,791)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.7%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Los Angeles
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Los Angeles by $13,706/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Los Angeles
Median Income
$13,706
$76,244 vs $62,538/yr
Palm Bay
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Palm Bay
Violent Crime
52% lower
347.2 vs 728.5 per 100k
Palm Bay
Median Home Value
$596k less
$226,200 vs $822,600
Palm Bay
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.7% unemployment
Palm Bay
Summer Heat
13.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 78.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Los Angeles, CA | Palm Bay, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $822,600⚠ High | $226,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,791⚠ High | $1,345⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $76,244 ✓ Higher | $62,538 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.7%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 31.3 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.1% ✓ Higher | 7.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 143⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 71 | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.2:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.7% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Los Angeles Unified | BREVARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 66.6°F | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.0°F | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 14.1" ✓ Drier | 60.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 3,881,041 ✓ Larger | 121,513 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 41.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 36.6% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | 21.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Los Angeles's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Palm Bay's 100.8 (US average = 100).
Palm Bay is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Palm Bay leads 16 of 22 categories. Los Angeles wins 6 and Palm Bay wins 16. 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 Los Angeles to Palm Bay or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($822,600 vs $226,200 median home), income ($76,244 vs $62,538), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Los Angeles, CA and Palm Bay, FL are about 2,262 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.