Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palm Bay, FL
VS
South Gate, CA
🏆 Palm Bay leads 19 of 22 categories
Palm Bay
Florida
19
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,538
Violent Crime Index
91 ✓ Safer
Population
121,513 ✓ Larger
South Gate
California
3
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$67,188 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
138⚠ High
Population
92,381
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
Homes cost $353k less ($226,200 vs $578,900)
34% less violent crime than South Gate
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.7%)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than South Gate
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 22.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails South Gate by $4,650/yr
South Gate, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 82°F vs 91°F
Households earn $4,650 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $578,900
Violent crime (525.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Palm Bay
Key Differences at a Glance
Palm Bay
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Palm Bay
Violent Crime
34% lower
347.2 vs 525.6 per 100k
Palm Bay
Median Home Value
$353k less
$226,200 vs $578,900
Palm Bay
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.9% unemployment
Palm Bay
Summer Heat
9.3°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 82.0°F
South Gate
Median Income
$4,650
$67,188 vs $62,538/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palm Bay, FL | South Gate, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $226,200 ✓ Lower | $578,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,345⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,400⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,538 | $67,188 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% ✓ Higher | 6.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 74 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C- (72) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.0% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% ✓ Higher | 58.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BREVARD | Westbrook Academy District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer | 68.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer | 82.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.0" | 14.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,513 ✓ Larger | 92,381 |
| Median Age | 41.8 ✓ Older | 33.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | 24.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.4% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palm Bay's cost of living index is 100.8 vs South Gate's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Palm Bay is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Palm Bay leads 19 of 22 categories. Palm Bay wins 19 and South Gate wins 3. 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 South Gate or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $578,900 median home), income ($62,538 vs $67,188), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palm Bay, FL and South Gate, CA are about 2,249 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.