32955 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
32955
32909
Opportunity
63 · Top 34%
vs48 · Bottom 35%
Growth
76 · Top 8%
vs71 · Top 14%
Climate
83 · Top 10%
vs83 · Top 10%
Physical resilience
19 · Bottom 12%
vs19 · Bottom 12%
Housing affordability
72 · Bottom 38%
vs79 · Bottom 48%
Schools
46 · Bottom 43%
vs52 · Top 49%
Access
95 · Top 40%
vs96 · Top 33%
Economic stability
54 · Bottom 40%
vs56 · Bottom 42%
Measured values
| Metric | 32955 | 32909 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 41,008 | 41,804 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $86,457 | $79,977 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $47,999 | $40,427 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 806/sq mi | 725/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $359,400 | $307,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,755 | $1,535 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 77.1% | 82.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5% | 5.1% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.7% | -0.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.9% | 23.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.8% | 11.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 225 | 2,451 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 7.7 | 18.8 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 212.5% | -16.1% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 90°F | 90°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 52°F | 52°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 50.8" | 50.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 16 mi | 14 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.1 min | 30.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 48.4 | 37.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 6 | 7 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 15.81 | 17.57 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 50.9% | 55.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 50.9% | 54.0% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 51.8% | 49.5% | 2024-25 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
32955
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
32909
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Full profiles: 32955 — Rockledge, FL · 32909 — Palm Bay, FL · How this is calculated: methodology