Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Macon-Bibb County, GA
VS
Palm Bay, FL
🏆 Palm Bay leads 11 of 21 categories
Macon-Bibb County
Georgia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,897
Violent Crime Index
394⚠ High
Population
156,554 ✓ Larger
Palm Bay
Florida
11
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.
Macon-Bibb County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $71k less ($155,200 vs $226,200)
Rent averages $378/mo less ($967 vs $1,345)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Palm Bay
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
More college-educated — 25.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1497.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Palm Bay by $13,641/yr
Property crime (3808.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 5.7%)
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
77% less violent crime than Macon-Bibb County
Households earn $13,641 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (5.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 59°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,345/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Macon-Bibb County
Key Differences at a Glance
Macon-Bibb County
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 100.8 (100 = US avg)
Macon-Bibb County
Median Home Value
$71k less
$155,200 vs $226,200
Palm Bay
Median Income
$13,641
$62,538 vs $48,897/yr
Palm Bay
Violent Crime
77% lower
347.2 vs 1497.8 per 100k
Palm Bay
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Macon-Bibb County, GA | Palm Bay, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 100.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,200 ✓ Lower | $226,200 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $967 ✓ Lower | $1,345⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,897 | $62,538 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 27.2 min |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 7.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 309⚠ High | 74 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 394⚠ High | 91 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 48 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.9% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 86.5% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bibb County | BREVARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer | 91.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" ✓ Drier | 60.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,554 ✓ Larger | 121,513 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 41.8 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 21.9% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 19.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Macon-Bibb County's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Palm Bay's 100.8 (US average = 100).
Macon-Bibb County is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Palm Bay leads 11 of 21 categories. Macon-Bibb County wins 10 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 Macon-Bibb County to Palm Bay or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,200 vs $226,200 median home), income ($48,897 vs $62,538), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Macon-Bibb County, GA and Palm Bay, FL are about 380 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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