Head-to-Head · City Comparison
St. Petersburg, FL
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 St. Petersburg leads 14 of 21 categories
St. Petersburg
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$70,333 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
259,343 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
117,588
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
St. Petersburg, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.6%)
Rent averages $204/mo less ($1,410 vs $1,614)
Homes cost $36k less ($289,000 vs $324,800)
Households earn $6,289 more per year on average
8% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
More college-educated — 40.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (619.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2458.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
7% less violent crime than St. Petersburg
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 69°F
Cons
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)
Pricier housing — median home is $324,800
Key Differences at a Glance
St. Petersburg
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
St. Petersburg
Median Income
$6,289
$70,333 vs $64,044/yr
St. Petersburg
Median Home Value
$36k less
$289,000 vs $324,800
St. Petersburg
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.2% unemployment
West Palm Beach
Violent Crime
7% lower
575.8 vs 619.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | St. Petersburg, FL | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $289,000 ✓ Lower | $324,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,410⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,614⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $70,333 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.0 min | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 15.7% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 145⚠ High | 132⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 152⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 117⚠ High | 102⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (107) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.6% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.8% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 69.0°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 259,343 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 42.9 ✓ Older | 40.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.6% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 16.3% | 17.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.9% | 19.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
St. Petersburg's cost of living index is 103.4 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
St. Petersburg is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, St. Petersburg leads 14 of 21 categories. St. Petersburg wins 14 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 St. Petersburg to West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($289,000 vs $324,800 median home), income ($70,333 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
St. Petersburg, FL and West Palm Beach, FL are about 170 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.