Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palm Bay, FL
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Palm Bay leads 12 of 23 categories
Palm Bay
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$62,538
Violent Crime Index
91 ✓ Safer
Population
121,513
Raleigh
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
Homes cost $121k less ($226,200 vs $347,000)
29% less violent crime than Raleigh
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 52°F
Cons
Median income trails Raleigh by $16,093/yr
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.5%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Raleigh
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Households earn $16,093 more per year on average
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.5%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Palm Bay
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Palm Bay
Violent Crime
29% lower
347.2 vs 488.8 per 100k
Palm Bay
Median Home Value
$121k less
$226,200 vs $347,000
Raleigh
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 100.8 (100 = US avg)
Raleigh
Median Income
$16,093
$78,631 vs $62,538/yr
Raleigh
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palm Bay, FL | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.8⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $226,200 ✓ Lower | $347,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,345⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,371⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,538 | $78,631 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 74 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 134⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.0% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BREVARD | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer | 51.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer | 90.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.0" | 49.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,513 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.8 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 51.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% ✓ More | 20.0% |
| Over 65 | 19.4% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palm Bay's cost of living index is 100.8 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Raleigh is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Palm Bay leads 12 of 23 categories. Palm Bay wins 12 and Raleigh wins 11. 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $347,000 median home), income ($62,538 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palm Bay, FL and Raleigh, NC are about 556 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.