Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palm Bay, FL
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 Palm Bay leads 15 of 22 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 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
Homes cost $99k less ($226,200 vs $324,800)
40% less violent crime than West Palm Beach
Rent averages $269/mo less ($1,345 vs $1,614)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (5.7%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
More college-educated — 37.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $324,800
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,614/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Palm Bay
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.8 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Palm Bay
Violent Crime
40% lower
347.2 vs 575.8 per 100k
Palm Bay
Median Home Value
$99k less
$226,200 vs $324,800
Palm Bay
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
5.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
West Palm Beach
Median Income
$1,506
$64,044 vs $62,538/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palm Bay, FL | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $226,200 ✓ Lower | $324,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,345⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $62,538 | $64,044 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.2 min | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.8% | 11.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 74 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 48 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.0% | 37.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BREVARD | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 72.9°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 60.0" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,513 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 41.8 ✓ Older | 40.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.9% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 21.9% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 19.4% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palm Bay's cost of living index is 100.8 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Palm Bay is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Palm Bay leads 15 of 22 categories. Palm Bay wins 15 and West Palm Beach wins 7. 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 West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($226,200 vs $324,800 median home), income ($62,538 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palm Bay, FL and West Palm Beach, FL are about 90 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.