Palm Bay vs Melbourne
The short version
- Overall prices are about the same in both metro areas (BEA 2024).
- The median home costs $283,200 in Palm Bay and $306,400 in Melbourne.
- Households earn more in Palm Bay ($72,614 vs $66,991 median).
- Palm Bay is growing faster: +23.7% since 2020 vs +2.8%.
- Commutes are shorter in Melbourne (23 vs 28 minutes each way).
Side by side
| Palm Bay, FL | Melbourne, FL | |
|---|---|---|
| People | ||
| Population (2025) | 148,092 | 87,097 |
| Growth since 2020 | +23.7% | +2.8% |
| People per square mile | 1,709 | 1,971 |
| Median age | 41.0 | 42.5 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24% | 35% |
| Money and housing | ||
| Median household income | $72,614 | $66,991 |
| Median home value | $283,200 | $306,400 |
| Home value to income | 3.9× | 4.6× |
| Median rent (with utilities) | $1,601 | $1,525 |
| Metro price level (US = 100) | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Housing price level (US = 100) | 111.7 | 111.7 |
| $75,000 elsewhere equals | $75,000 | $75,000 |
| Homeowners | 80% | 60% |
| Top state income tax | None | None |
| Combined sales tax | 6.98% | 6.98% |
| Work and commute | ||
| Average commute (minutes) | 27.8 | 22.8 |
| Work from home | 11% | 14% |
| Take public transit | 1% | 1% |
| Unemployment (2020-24 avg) | 6.1% | 4.6% |
| Poverty rate | 11.7% | 15.8% |
| Weather | ||
| January high / low | 72° / 52° | 72° / 52° |
| July high / low | 90° / 74° | 90° / 74° |
| Precipitation per year | 51 in | 51 in |
| Snowfall per year | 0 in | 0 in |
| Days 90°F or hotter | 63 | 63 |
| 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% | 91% |
| Home prices, past year | +2.2% | +2.2% |
| Home prices, past 5 years | +40.5% | +40.5% |
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: Palm Bay: November to May. Melbourne: November to May.
Full monthly tables: Palm Bay weather by month and Melbourne 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 Palm Bay and $75,000 in Melbourne. Moving from Palm Bay to Melbourne, you would need about $75,000 to match a $75,000 salary.
Which would you pick?
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