Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palm Bay, FL
VS
Rockford, IL
🏆 Palm Bay leads 15 of 23 categories
Palm Bay
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$62,538 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
91 ✓ Safer
Population
121,513
Rockford
Illinois
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,744
Violent Crime Index
284⚠ High
Population
148,173 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
68% less violent crime than Rockford
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (5.7%)
Households earn $11,794 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 29°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,345/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Rockford
Rockford, IL
Pros
Homes cost $112k less ($114,100 vs $226,200)
Rent averages $439/mo less ($906 vs $1,345)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Palm Bay
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.1)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Cons
Violent crime (1080.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Palm Bay by $11,794/yr
Property crime (2517.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (9.0% vs 5.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Palm Bay
Median Income
$11,794
$62,538 vs $50,744/yr
Palm Bay
Violent Crime
68% lower
347.2 vs 1080.0 per 100k
Palm Bay
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
5.7% vs 9.0% unemployment
Palm Bay
Summer Heat
7.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 83.9°F
Rockford
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 90.1 vs 100.8 (100 = US avg)
Rockford
Median Home Value
$112k less
$114,100 vs $226,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palm Bay, FL | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.8⚠ High | 90.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $226,200 | $114,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,345⚠ High | $906 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,538 ✓ Higher | $50,744 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% ✓ Higher | 7.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 74 ✓ Safer | 218⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 284⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 120⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C (79) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.0% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% ✓ Higher | 85.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BREVARD | Rockford SD 205 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer | 29.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer | 83.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.0" | 38.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 37.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,513 | 148,173 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.8 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 54.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.4% ✓ More | 17.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palm Bay's cost of living index is 100.8 vs Rockford's 90.1 (US average = 100).
Rockford is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Palm Bay leads 15 of 23 categories. Palm Bay wins 15 and Rockford wins 8. 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 Rockford or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $114,100 median home), income ($62,538 vs $50,744), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palm Bay, FL and Rockford, IL are about 1,095 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.