Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palm Bay, FL
VS
San Jose, CA
🏆 Palm Bay leads 15 of 22 categories
Palm Bay
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,538
Violent Crime Index
91 ✓ Safer
Population
121,513
San Jose
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$136,010 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
160⚠ High
Population
1,001,176 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
Homes cost $923k less ($226,200 vs $1,149,600)
Rent averages $1181/mo less ($1,345 vs $2,526)
43% less violent crime than San Jose
12% cheaper overall cost of living than San Jose
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 59°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Jose by $73,472/yr
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.7%)
San Jose, CA
Pros
Households earn $73,472 more per year on average
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (4.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,149,600
Higher rents — median is $2,526/mo
Violent crime (606.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Key Differences at a Glance
Palm Bay
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.8 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Palm Bay
Violent Crime
43% lower
347.2 vs 606.8 per 100k
Palm Bay
Median Home Value
$923k less
$226,200 vs $1,149,600
Palm Bay
Summer Heat
9.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 82.2°F
San Jose
Median Income
$73,472
$136,010 vs $62,538/yr
San Jose
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palm Bay, FL | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $226,200 ✓ Lower | $1,149,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,345⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,538 | $136,010 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter | 28.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% | 16.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 74 ✓ Safer | 145⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 160⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.0% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% ✓ Higher | 85.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BREVARD | San Jose Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.0" | 18.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,513 | 1,001,176 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.8 ✓ Older | 37.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 55.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% ✓ More | 21.2% |
| Over 65 | 19.4% ✓ More | 13.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palm Bay's cost of living index is 100.8 vs San Jose's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Palm Bay is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Palm Bay leads 15 of 22 categories. Palm Bay wins 15 and San Jose 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 San Jose or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $1,149,600 median home), income ($62,538 vs $136,010), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palm Bay, FL and San Jose, CA are about 2,459 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.