Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mesa, AZ
VS
Palm Coast, FL
🏆 Mesa leads 11 of 19 categories
Mesa
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Palm Coast
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$68,824
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,082
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Rent averages $269/mo less ($1,352 vs $1,621)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,942 more per year on average
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Palm Coast
Cons
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $327,700
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Palm Coast, FL
Pros
Homes cost $44k less ($283,300 vs $327,700)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.1%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 106°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,621/mo
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Median income trails Mesa by $4,942/yr
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Mesa
Key Differences at a Glance
Mesa
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Mesa
Median Income
$4,942
$73,766 vs $68,824/yr
Mesa
Summer Heat
18.1°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 87.8°F
Palm Coast
Median Home Value
$44k less
$283,300 vs $327,700
Palm Coast
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.1% vs 4.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mesa, AZ | Palm Coast, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 104.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,700⚠ High | $283,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,621⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,766 ✓ Higher | $68,824 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 13.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 104⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% ✓ Higher | 26.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mesa Unified District (4235) | FLAGLER |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F ✓ Warmer | 65.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 87.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.8" ✓ Drier | 51.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 503,390 ✓ Larger | 91,082 |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 50.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.2% | 77.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% | 29.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mesa's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Palm Coast's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Mesa is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Mesa leads 11 of 19 categories. Mesa wins 11 and Palm Coast wins 8. 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 Mesa to Palm Coast or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,700 vs $283,300 median home), income ($73,766 vs $68,824), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mesa, AZ and Palm Coast, FL are about 1,809 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.