Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palm Coast, FL
VS
Vista, CA
🏆 Palm Coast leads 12 of 19 categories
Palm Coast
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$68,824
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,082
Vista
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,715 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
83
Population
98,392 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Palm Coast, FL
Pros
Homes cost $340k less ($283,300 vs $622,900)
Rent averages $381/mo less ($1,621 vs $2,002)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (4.1%)
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Vista
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Vista by $19,891/yr
Vista, CA
Pros
Households earn $19,891 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 88°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $622,900
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Palm Coast
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Palm Coast
Median Home Value
$340k less
$283,300 vs $622,900
Palm Coast
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.3% unemployment
Palm Coast
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 87.8°F vs 78.9°F
Vista
Median Income
$19,891
$88,715 vs $68,824/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palm Coast, FL | Vista, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $283,300 ✓ Lower | $622,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,621⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $68,824 | $88,715 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 27.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.1% ✓ Higher | 11.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 66 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 83 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 41 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% | 27.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 91.8% ✓ Higher | 82.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | FLAGLER | Vista Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.2°F | 65.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.8°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.3" | 13.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,082 | 98,392 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 50.3 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 77.9% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 29.5% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palm Coast's cost of living index is 104.5 vs Vista's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Palm Coast is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Palm Coast leads 12 of 19 categories. Palm Coast wins 12 and Vista 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 Coast to Vista or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($283,300 vs $622,900 median home), income ($68,824 vs $88,715), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palm Coast, FL and Vista, CA are about 2,128 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.