Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Macon-Bibb County, GA
VS
Palm Coast, FL
🏆 Palm Coast leads 10 of 18 categories
Macon-Bibb County
Georgia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,897
Violent Crime Index
394⚠ High
Population
156,554 ✓ Larger
Palm Coast
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$68,824 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,082
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Macon-Bibb County, GA
Pros
Homes cost $128k less ($155,200 vs $283,300)
Rent averages $654/mo less ($967 vs $1,621)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Palm Coast
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Palm Coast by $19,927/yr
Violent crime (1497.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3808.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.5% vs 4.1%)
Palm Coast, FL
Pros
Households earn $19,927 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (4.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 59°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,621/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Macon-Bibb County
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Macon-Bibb County
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Macon-Bibb County
Median Home Value
$128k less
$155,200 vs $283,300
Macon-Bibb County
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.5°F vs 87.8°F
Palm Coast
Median Income
$19,927
$68,824 vs $48,897/yr
Palm Coast
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
4.1% vs 7.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Macon-Bibb County, GA | Palm Coast, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $155,200 ✓ Lower | $283,300 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $967 ✓ Lower | $1,621⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,897 | $68,824 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.5%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.7 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 13.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 309⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 394⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 25.9% | 26.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.5% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bibb County | FLAGLER |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.3°F | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.5°F ✓ Warmer | 87.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 156,554 ✓ Larger | 91,082 |
| Median Age | 36.5 | 50.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 77.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 29.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Macon-Bibb County's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Palm Coast's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Macon-Bibb County is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 18 decided categories above, Palm Coast leads 10 of 18 categories. Macon-Bibb County wins 8 and Palm Coast wins 10. 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 Coast or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($155,200 vs $283,300 median home), income ($48,897 vs $68,824), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Macon-Bibb County, GA and Palm Coast, FL are about 269 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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