Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palm Coast, FL
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Raleigh leads 13 of 20 categories
Palm Coast
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$68,824
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,082
Raleigh
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Palm Coast, FL
Pros
Homes cost $64k less ($283,300 vs $347,000)
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 52°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,621/mo
Median income trails Raleigh by $9,807/yr
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Raleigh
Raleigh, NC
Pros
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $250/mo less ($1,371 vs $1,621)
Households earn $9,807 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Palm Coast
Smaller class sizes — 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $347,000
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Palm Coast
Median Home Value
$64k less
$283,300 vs $347,000
Raleigh
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 104.5 (100 = US avg)
Raleigh
Median Income
$9,807
$78,631 vs $68,824/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palm Coast, FL | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $283,300 ✓ Lower | $347,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,621⚠ High | $1,371⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $68,824 | $78,631 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.1% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 131⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 134⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.8% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FLAGLER | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer | 51.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.8°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 49.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,082 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 50.3 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.9% ✓ Higher | 51.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 20.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 29.5% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palm Coast's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Raleigh is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 13 of 20 categories. Palm Coast wins 7 and Raleigh wins 13. 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 Coast to Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($283,300 vs $347,000 median home), income ($68,824 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palm Coast, FL and Raleigh, NC are about 460 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.