Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palm Bay, FL
VS
Washington, DC
🏆 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 ✓ Safer
Population
121,513
Washington
District of Columbia
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$101,722 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
244⚠ High
Population
670,587 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
Homes cost $479k less ($226,200 vs $705,000)
63% less violent crime than Washington
Rent averages $472/mo less ($1,345 vs $1,817)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (5.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 73°F vs 45°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Washington by $39,184/yr
Washington, DC
Pros
Households earn $39,184 more per year on average
More college-educated — 62.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 10.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $705,000
Higher rents — median is $1,817/mo
Violent crime (925.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3588.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Palm Bay
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 100.8 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Palm Bay
Violent Crime
63% lower
347.2 vs 925.9 per 100k
Palm Bay
Median Home Value
$479k less
$226,200 vs $705,000
Palm Bay
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.1% unemployment
Washington
Median Income
$39,184
$101,722 vs $62,538/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palm Bay, FL | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 108.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $226,200 ✓ Lower | $705,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,345⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,817⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,538 | $101,722 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% | 25.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 74 ✓ Safer | 215⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 244⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 171⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A (119) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 | 10.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.0% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 92.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BREVARD | District of Columbia Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 72.9°F ✓ Warmer | 44.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer | 89.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.0" | 45.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 9.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,513 | 670,587 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.8 ✓ Older | 34.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 41.4% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 19.4% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palm Bay's cost of living index is 100.8 vs Washington's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Palm Bay is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Palm Bay leads 15 of 23 categories. Palm Bay wins 15 and Washington 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 Washington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $705,000 median home), income ($62,538 vs $101,722), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palm Bay, FL and Washington, DC are about 784 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.