Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palm Bay, FL
VS
Peoria, AZ
🏆 Peoria leads 13 of 22 categories
Palm Bay
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$62,538
Violent Crime Index
91
Population
121,513
Peoria
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$86,759 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
67 ✓ Safer
Population
191,292 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
Homes cost $157k less ($226,200 vs $383,600)
Rent averages $293/mo less ($1,345 vs $1,638)
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 105°F
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 65°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Peoria by $24,221/yr
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.9%)
Peoria, AZ
Pros
Households earn $24,221 more per year on average
27% less violent crime than Palm Bay
Violent crime is well below the national average (254.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.9%)
More college-educated — 34.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $383,600
Higher rents — median is $1,638/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Palm Bay
Median Home Value
$157k less
$226,200 vs $383,600
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 100.8 on the COL index
Peoria
Median Income
$24,221
$86,759 vs $62,538/yr
Peoria
Violent Crime
27% lower
254.7 vs 347.2 per 100k
Peoria
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.9% vs 5.7% unemployment
Peoria
Summer Heat
13.3°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 91.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palm Bay, FL | Peoria, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.8⚠ High | 100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $226,200 ✓ Lower | $383,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,345⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,638⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,538 | $86,759 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter | 29.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% | 17.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 74 | 63 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 67 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 57 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 18.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.0% | 34.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BREVARD | Peoria Unified School District (4237) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer | 65.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.3°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.0" | 10.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,513 | 191,292 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.8 ✓ Older | 41.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 75.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.4% ✓ More | 18.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palm Bay's cost of living index is 100.8 vs Peoria's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Peoria is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Peoria leads 13 of 22 categories. Palm Bay wins 9 and Peoria wins 13. 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 Palm Bay to Peoria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $383,600 median home), income ($62,538 vs $86,759), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palm Bay, FL and Peoria, AZ are about 1,912 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.