Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Orlando, FL
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 Orlando leads 12 of 22 categories
Orlando
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
307,738 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Orlando, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.2%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $105/mo less ($1,509 vs $1,614)
Cons
Violent crime (835.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4028.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
31% less violent crime than Orlando
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Orlando
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 5.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Orlando
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 101.1 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Orlando
Median Income
$2,248
$66,292 vs $64,044/yr
Orlando
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.2% vs 6.2% unemployment
West Palm Beach
Violent Crime
31% lower
575.8 vs 835.8 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Orlando, FL | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $332,700⚠ High | $324,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,509⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,292 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 12.1% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 220⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 192⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 41.7% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 91.4% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ORANGE | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.8°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 307,738 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.2% | 49.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.8% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Orlando's cost of living index is 101.1 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Orlando is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Orlando leads 12 of 22 categories. Orlando wins 12 and West Palm Beach 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 Orlando to West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($332,700 vs $324,800 median home), income ($66,292 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Orlando, FL and West Palm Beach, FL are about 134 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.