Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Midland, TX
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 Midland leads 14 of 23 categories
Midland
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$90,448 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
96 ✓ Safer
Population
132,490 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Midland, TX
Pros
Households earn $26,404 more per year on average
37% less violent crime than West Palm Beach
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (3.2%)
17% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Homes cost $44k less ($280,700 vs $324,800)
Rent averages $214/mo less ($1,400 vs $1,614)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 60°F
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 95°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Midland by $26,404/yr
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Midland
Pricier housing — median home is $324,800
Key Differences at a Glance
Midland
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Midland
Median Income
$26,404
$90,448 vs $64,044/yr
Midland
Violent Crime
37% lower
364.9 vs 575.8 per 100k
Midland
Median Home Value
$44k less
$280,700 vs $324,800
Midland
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.2% unemployment
Midland
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.3°F vs 90.0°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Midland, TX | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $280,700 ✓ Lower | $324,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,400⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $90,448 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 5.6% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 88 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 77 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 20.8:1 | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 84.9% | 86.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIDLAND ISD | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 60.3°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.3°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 16.7" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.9" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 132,490 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 31.4 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.9% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 28.5% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.2% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Midland's cost of living index is 94.8 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Midland is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Midland leads 14 of 23 categories. Midland wins 14 and West Palm Beach wins 9. 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 Midland to West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($280,700 vs $324,800 median home), income ($90,448 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Midland, TX and West Palm Beach, FL are about 1,370 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.