Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palm Bay, FL
VS
Stockton, CA
🏆 Palm Bay leads 17 of 22 categories
Palm Bay
Florida
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,538
Violent Crime Index
91 ✓ Safer
Population
121,513
Stockton
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,612 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
320,030 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
Homes cost $156k less ($226,200 vs $382,000)
70% less violent crime than Stockton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.7%)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 58°F
More college-educated — 22.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Stockton by $9,074/yr
Stockton, CA
Pros
Households earn $9,074 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,000
Violent crime (1145.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2639.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (7.7% vs 5.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Palm Bay
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 100.8 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Palm Bay
Violent Crime
70% lower
347.2 vs 1145.8 per 100k
Palm Bay
Median Home Value
$156k less
$226,200 vs $382,000
Palm Bay
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.7% unemployment
Stockton
Median Income
$9,074
$71,612 vs $62,538/yr
Stockton
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 94.7°F vs 91.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palm Bay, FL | Stockton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $226,200 ✓ Lower | $382,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,345⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,417⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,538 | $71,612 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter | 32.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 74 ✓ Safer | 231⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C- (74) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.0% ✓ Higher | 18.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% ✓ Higher | 77.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BREVARD | Stockton Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer | 58.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.3°F | 94.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.0" | 17.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,513 | 320,030 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.8 ✓ Older | 33.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 51.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | 27.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.4% ✓ More | 12.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palm Bay's cost of living index is 100.8 vs Stockton's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Palm Bay is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Palm Bay leads 17 of 22 categories. Palm Bay wins 17 and Stockton wins 5. 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 Stockton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $382,000 median home), income ($62,538 vs $71,612), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palm Bay, FL and Stockton, CA are about 2,435 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.