Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palm Coast, FL
VS
Sunnyvale, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 9 categories each
Palm Coast
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$68,824
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,082
Sunnyvale
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
154,573 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Palm Coast, FL
Pros
Homes cost $1397k less ($283,300 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1369/mo less ($1,621 vs $2,990)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Sunnyvale
Milder winters — January highs near 65°F vs 59°F
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $105,682/yr
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $105,682 more per year on average
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,680,700
Higher rents — median is $2,990/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.9)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Palm Coast
Key Differences at a Glance
Palm Coast
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
Palm Coast
Median Home Value
$1397k less
$283,300 vs $1,680,700
Palm Coast
Summer Heat
10.9°F warmer
July avg high 87.8°F vs 76.9°F
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$105,682
$174,506 vs $68,824/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palm Coast, FL | Sunnyvale, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $283,300 ✓ Lower | $1,680,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,621⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,990⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $68,824 | $174,506 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.1% | 24.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 75 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 64 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 68.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.8% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FLAGLER | Cupertino Union |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F ✓ Warmer | 59.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.8°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 13.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,082 | 154,573 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 50.3 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.9% ✓ Higher | 44.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 19.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 29.5% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palm Coast's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Sunnyvale's 112.9 (US average = 100).
Palm Coast is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 18 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 9 categories each. Palm Coast wins 9 and Sunnyvale 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 Coast to Sunnyvale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($283,300 vs $1,680,700 median home), income ($68,824 vs $174,506), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palm Coast, FL and Sunnyvale, CA are about 2,393 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.