Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palm Bay, FL
VS
Spokane Valley, WA
🏆 Palm Bay leads 15 of 23 categories
Palm Bay
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,538
Violent Crime Index
91
Population
121,513 ✓ Larger
Spokane Valley
Washington
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$66,483 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
103,761
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
Homes cost $82k less ($226,200 vs $307,700)
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 38°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,345/mo
Median income trails Spokane Valley by $3,945/yr
Spokane Valley, WA
Pros
30% less violent crime than Palm Bay
Violent crime is well below the national average (242.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Rent averages $170/mo less ($1,175 vs $1,345)
More college-educated — 25.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $3,945 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $307,700
Property crime (3515.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Snowy winters — about 45" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Palm Bay
Median Home Value
$82k less
$226,200 vs $307,700
Palm Bay
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 87.1°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 100.8 on the COL index
Spokane Valley
Median Income
$3,945
$66,483 vs $62,538/yr
Spokane Valley
Violent Crime
30% lower
242.1 vs 347.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palm Bay, FL | Spokane Valley, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 101.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $226,200 ✓ Lower | $307,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,345⚠ High | $1,175 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,538 | $66,483 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% | 10.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 74 ✓ Safer | 105⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 64 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.0% | 25.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 94.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BREVARD | East Valley School District (Spokane) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer | 37.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer | 87.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.0" | 17.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 45.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,513 ✓ Larger | 103,761 |
| Median Age | 41.8 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 57.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% ✓ More | 21.7% |
| Over 65 | 19.4% ✓ More | 17.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palm Bay's cost of living index is 100.8 vs Spokane Valley's 101.0 (US average = 100).
Palm Bay is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Palm Bay leads 15 of 23 categories. Palm Bay wins 15 and Spokane Valley 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 Spokane Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $307,700 median home), income ($62,538 vs $66,483), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palm Bay, FL and Spokane Valley, WA are about 2,382 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.