Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palm Bay, FL
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 12 of 21 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 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62 ✓ Safer
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
Homes cost $78k less ($226,200 vs $304,000)
Rent averages $384/mo less ($1,345 vs $1,729)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 104°F
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 66°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $25,928/yr
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.5%)
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
Households earn $25,928 more per year on average
32% less violent crime than Palm Bay
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.5%)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Palm Bay
Median Home Value
$78k less
$226,200 vs $304,000
San Tan Valley
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 100.8 (100 = US avg)
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$25,928
$88,466 vs $62,538/yr
San Tan Valley
Violent Crime
32% lower
235.7 vs 347.2 per 100k
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.5% vs 5.7% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
12.9°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 91.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palm Bay, FL | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.8⚠ High | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $226,200 ✓ Lower | $304,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,345⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,538 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 74 | 56 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 62 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 | 46 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.0% | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BREVARD | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer | 65.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.3°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.0" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,513 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 41.8 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.9% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.4% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palm Bay's cost of living index is 100.8 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
San Tan Valley is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 12 of 21 categories. Palm Bay wins 9 and San Tan Valley wins 12. 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 Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $304,000 median home), income ($62,538 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palm Bay, FL and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 1,866 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.