Melbourne vs Orlando
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $306,400 in Melbourne and $394,100 in Orlando.
- Households earn more in Orlando ($72,336 vs $66,991 median).
- Orlando has more scorching days: 110 a year at 90°F or hotter vs 63.
- Orlando is growing faster: +8.4% since 2020 vs +2.8%.
- Commutes are shorter in Melbourne (23 vs 26 minutes each way).
Side by side
| Melbourne, FL | Orlando, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 87,097 | 333,888 |
| Growth since 2020 | +2.8% | +8.4% |
| People per square mile | 1,971 | 3,005 |
| Median age | 42.5 | 35.1 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35% | 43% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $66,991 | $72,336 |
| Median home value | $306,400 | $394,100 |
| Home value to income | 4.6× | 5.4× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,525 | $1,747 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 100.0 | 101.4 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 111.7 | 123.4 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $75,000 | $76,100 |
| Homeowners | 60% | 40% |
| Top state income tax | None | None |
| Combined sales tax | 6.98% | 6.98% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 22.8 | 26.2 |
| Work from home | 14% | 16% |
| Take public transit | 1% | 2% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Poverty rate | 15.8% | 14.7% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 72° / 52° | 72° / 50° |
| July high / low | 90° / 74° | 92° / 73° |
| Precipitation per year | 51 in | 52 in |
| Snowfall per year | 0 in | 0 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 63 | 110 |
| Nights below freezing | 2 | 2 |
| Comfortable months | 7 | 7 |
| Risks, air and home prices | ||
| Natural hazard risk (FEMA, county) | Relatively High | Relatively High |
| FEMA risk score (lower is safer) | 98.4 | 98.4 |
| Good air days, 2025 | 91% | 70% |
| Home prices, past year | +2.2% | +0.8% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +40.5% | +45.4% |
Highlighted cells are the better value where "better" is clear (lower prices, higher income, shorter commutes). Sources: Census Bureau 2025 estimates and ACS 2020-2024, BEA 2024, NOAA 1991-2020, Tax Foundation 2026.
Weather, month by month
Most comfortable months: Melbourne: November to May. Orlando: October to April.
Full monthly tables: Melbourne weather by month and Orlando weather by month.
What $75,000 is worth
A $75,000 salary in an average-priced US city buys about the same as $75,000 in Melbourne and $76,100 in Orlando. Moving from Melbourne to Orlando, you would need about $76,100 to match a $75,000 salary.
Moving between Melbourne and Orlando
IRS county-to-county migration, 2022 to 2023 tax years, for the counties that contain each city. See where else people move from Melbourne and Orlando.
Which would you pick?
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