Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palm Bay, FL
VS
Quincy, MA
🏆 Palm Bay leads 16 of 23 categories
Palm Bay
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,538
Violent Crime Index
91
Population
121,513 ✓ Larger
Quincy
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$90,668 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88 ✓ Safer
Population
100,981
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
Homes cost $337k less ($226,200 vs $563,200)
Rent averages $556/mo less ($1,345 vs $1,901)
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 38°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (5.7%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Quincy
Cons
Median income trails Quincy by $28,130/yr
Quincy, MA
Pros
Households earn $28,130 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $563,200
Higher rents — median is $1,901/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Palm Bay
Key Differences at a Glance
Palm Bay
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.8 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Palm Bay
Median Home Value
$337k less
$226,200 vs $563,200
Palm Bay
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.7% unemployment
Palm Bay
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 83.0°F
Quincy
Median Income
$28,130
$90,668 vs $62,538/yr
Quincy
Violent Crime
3% lower
335.1 vs 347.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palm Bay, FL | Quincy, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $226,200 ✓ Lower | $563,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,345⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,901⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,538 | $90,668 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter | 33.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% | 15.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 74 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 88 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 63 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 13.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.0% | 46.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% ✓ Higher | 89.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BREVARD | Quincy |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer | 37.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.0" | 52.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 50.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,513 ✓ Larger | 100,981 |
| Median Age | 41.8 ✓ Older | 38.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 19.4% ✓ More | 16.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palm Bay's cost of living index is 100.8 vs Quincy's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Palm Bay is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Palm Bay leads 16 of 23 categories. Palm Bay wins 16 and Quincy wins 7. 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 Quincy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $563,200 median home), income ($62,538 vs $90,668), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palm Bay, FL and Quincy, MA are about 1,127 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.