Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Sunnyvale, CA
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 Sunnyvale leads 13 of 22 categories
Sunnyvale
California
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$174,506 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64 ✓ Safer
Population
154,573 ✓ Larger
West Palm Beach
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,044
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.
Sunnyvale, CA
Pros
Households earn $110,462 more per year on average
58% less violent crime than West Palm Beach
More college-educated — 68.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.1%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (244.5 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 90°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)
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Homes cost $1356k less ($324,800 vs $1,680,700)
Rent averages $1376/mo less ($1,614 vs $2,990)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 59°F
Smaller class sizes — 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Sunnyvale by $110,462/yr
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Sunnyvale
Median Income
$110,462
$174,506 vs $64,044/yr
Sunnyvale
Violent Crime
58% lower
244.5 vs 575.8 per 100k
Sunnyvale
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.1% vs 6.2% unemployment
West Palm Beach
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 112.9 (100 = US avg)
West Palm Beach
Median Home Value
$1356k less
$324,800 vs $1,680,700
West Palm Beach
Summer Heat
13.1°F warmer
July avg high 90.0°F vs 76.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Sunnyvale, CA | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.9⚠ High | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $1,680,700⚠ High | $324,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,990⚠ High | $1,614⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $174,506 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min ✓ Shorter | 23.8 min |
| Work From Home % | 24.7% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 75 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 64 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (112) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.5:1 | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 68.0% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cupertino Union | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.0°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 76.9°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 13.4" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 154,573 ✓ Larger | 117,588 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.4% | 49.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sunnyvale's cost of living index is 112.9 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
West Palm Beach is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sunnyvale leads 13 of 22 categories. Sunnyvale wins 13 and West Palm Beach 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 Sunnyvale to West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,680,700 vs $324,800 median home), income ($174,506 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Sunnyvale, CA and West Palm Beach, FL are about 2,538 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.