Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palm Bay, FL
VS
Torrance, CA
🏆 Palm Bay leads 12 of 22 categories
Palm Bay
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,538
Violent Crime Index
91
Population
121,513
Torrance
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$109,554 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
82 ✓ Safer
Population
145,454 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
Homes cost $736k less ($226,200 vs $962,300)
Rent averages $787/mo less ($1,345 vs $2,132)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Torrance
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 67°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Torrance by $47,016/yr
Torrance, CA
Pros
Households earn $47,016 more per year on average
10% less violent crime than Palm Bay
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 76°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $962,300
Higher rents — median is $2,132/mo
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
Median Home Value
$736k less
$226,200 vs $962,300
Palm Bay
Summer Heat
15.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 75.6°F
Torrance
Median Income
$47,016
$109,554 vs $62,538/yr
Torrance
Violent Crime
10% lower
311.2 vs 347.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palm Bay, FL | Torrance, 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 | $962,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,345⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,132⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,538 | $109,554 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter | 27.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% | 15.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 74 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 82 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.0% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 95.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BREVARD | Torrance Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer | 66.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer | 75.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.0" | 13.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,513 | 145,454 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.8 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 54.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 19.4% ✓ More | 17.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palm Bay's cost of living index is 100.8 vs Torrance's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Palm Bay is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Palm Bay leads 12 of 22 categories. Palm Bay wins 12 and Torrance wins 10. 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 Torrance or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $962,300 median home), income ($62,538 vs $109,554), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palm Bay, FL and Torrance, CA are about 2,259 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.