Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palm Bay, FL
VS
Vancouver, WA
🏆 Palm Bay leads 14 of 23 categories
Palm Bay
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,538
Violent Crime Index
91 ✓ Safer
Population
121,513
Vancouver
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,626 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
190,700 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
Homes cost $177k less ($226,200 vs $403,400)
40% less violent crime than Vancouver
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 47°F
Rent averages $180/mo less ($1,345 vs $1,525)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Vancouver
Cons
Median income trails Vancouver by $11,088/yr
Vancouver, WA
Pros
Households earn $11,088 more per year on average
More college-educated — 31.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $403,400
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3407.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,525/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Palm Bay
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 100.8 vs 106.6 (100 = US avg)
Palm Bay
Violent Crime
40% lower
347.2 vs 582.3 per 100k
Palm Bay
Median Home Value
$177k less
$226,200 vs $403,400
Palm Bay
Summer Heat
10.4°F warmer
July avg high 91.3°F vs 80.9°F
Vancouver
Median Income
$11,088
$73,626 vs $62,538/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palm Bay, FL | Vancouver, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 106.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $226,200 ✓ Lower | $403,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,345⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,525⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,538 | $73,626 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% | 13.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 74 ✓ Safer | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 162⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 17.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.0% | 31.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 91.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BREVARD | Evergreen School District (Clark) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer | 47.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer | 80.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.0" | 44.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,513 | 190,700 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.8 ✓ Older | 37.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 50.9% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% ✓ More | 21.5% |
| Over 65 | 19.4% ✓ More | 16.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palm Bay's cost of living index is 100.8 vs Vancouver's 106.6 (US average = 100).
Palm Bay is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Palm Bay leads 14 of 23 categories. Palm Bay wins 14 and Vancouver wins 9. 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 Vancouver or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $403,400 median home), income ($62,538 vs $73,626), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palm Bay, FL and Vancouver, WA are about 2,583 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.