Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palm Bay, FL
VS
Tracy, CA
🏆 Palm Bay leads 14 of 22 categories
Palm Bay
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,538
Violent Crime Index
91
Population
121,513 ✓ Larger
Tracy
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$111,717 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
79 ✓ Safer
Population
94,027
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
Homes cost $391k less ($226,200 vs $617,300)
Rent averages $817/mo less ($1,345 vs $2,162)
Commutes run 16 min shorter each way
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 57°F
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Tracy
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Tracy by $49,179/yr
Tracy, CA
Pros
Households earn $49,179 more per year on average
13% less violent crime than Palm Bay
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $617,300
Higher rents — median is $2,162/mo
Longer commutes — 43.5 min average each way
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Palm Bay
Key Differences at a Glance
Palm Bay
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 100.8 vs 107.4 (100 = US avg)
Palm Bay
Median Home Value
$391k less
$226,200 vs $617,300
Tracy
Median Income
$49,179
$111,717 vs $62,538/yr
Tracy
Violent Crime
13% lower
301.4 vs 347.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palm Bay, FL | Tracy, 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 | $617,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,345⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,162⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,538 | $111,717 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter | 43.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 74 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | 79 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 76 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C- (71) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.0% | 24.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BREVARD | Jefferson Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.3°F | 93.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.0" | 12.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,513 ✓ Larger | 94,027 |
| Median Age | 41.8 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 64.0% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% | 26.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.4% ✓ More | 9.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palm Bay's cost of living index is 100.8 vs Tracy's 107.4 (US average = 100).
Palm Bay is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Palm Bay leads 14 of 22 categories. Palm Bay wins 14 and Tracy 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 Tracy or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $617,300 median home), income ($62,538 vs $111,717), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palm Bay, FL and Tracy, CA are about 2,441 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.