Signals
Fernandina Beach
Palm Valley
Opportunity
58 · Top 46%
vs61 · Top 39%
Climate
88 · Top 8%
vs85 · Top 10%
Physical resilience
53 · Bottom 45%
vs49 · Bottom 41%
Housing affordability
74 · Bottom 39%
vs70 · Bottom 34%
Schools
79 · Top 15%
vs86 · Top 6%
Access
93 · Top 46%
vs95 · Top 37%
Economic stability
34 · Bottom 11%
vs59 · Bottom 47%
Measured values
| Metric | Fernandina Beach | Palm Valley | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 13,420 | 19,796 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $97,903 | $116,625 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $65,868 | $90,258 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,133/sq mi | 1,623/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $555,400 | $690,800 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,259 | $1,856 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 80.5% | 81.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5% | 4.7% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -0.5% | -0.6% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 53.3% | 71.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.3% | 4.2% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 89°F | 91°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 43°F | 45°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 47.2" | 51.8" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 18 mi | 17 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 23.5 min | 25.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 58.6 | 51.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 7 | 3 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 16.33 | 17.26 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 70.7% | 89.0% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 68.5% | 83.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 35.7% | 10.2% | 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
Fernandina Beach
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, wildfire, coastal flooding.
Palm Valley
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane, coastal flooding.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Fernandina Beach
66
Your Score
65
Area Score
Palm Valley
72
Your Score
—
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Fernandina Beach, FL · Palm Valley, FL · How this is calculated: methodology