Signals
Cocoa Beach
Merritt Island
Climate
83 · Top 10%
vs83 · Top 10%
Physical resilience
19 · Bottom 12%
vs19 · Bottom 12%
Housing affordability
66 · Bottom 28%
vs85 · Top 43%
Schools
83 · Top 10%
vs77 · Top 18%
Access
95 · Top 37%
vs95 · Top 34%
Economic stability
32 · Bottom 9%
vs43 · Bottom 22%
Measured values
| Metric | Cocoa Beach | Merritt Island | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,377 | 34,992 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $87,990 | $94,012 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $65,811 | $56,114 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,442/sq mi | 2,062/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $503,200 | $402,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,569 | $1,441 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 78.8% | 80.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 49.7% | 41.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 9.6% | 7.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| 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 | 26.2 min | 26.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 59.2 | 50.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 4 | 4 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 16.52 | 15.21 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 77.5% | 65.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 73.3% | 68.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 23.9% | 38.7% | 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
Cocoa Beach
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Merritt Island
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
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Cocoa Beach
60
Your Score
58
Area Score
Merritt Island
67
Your Score
—
Area Score
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Full profiles: Cocoa Beach, FL · Merritt Island, FL · How this is calculated: methodology