Signals
Merritt Island
Palm Bay
Climate
83 · Top 10%
vs83 · Top 10%
Physical resilience
19 · Bottom 12%
vs19 · Bottom 12%
Housing affordability
85 · Top 43%
vs70 · Bottom 35%
Schools
77 · Top 18%
vs43 · Bottom 39%
Access
95 · Top 34%
vs99 · Top 14%
Economic stability
43 · Bottom 22%
vs50 · Bottom 31%
Measured values
| Metric | Merritt Island | Palm Bay | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 34,992 | 130,132 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $94,012 | $72,614 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $56,114 | $34,813 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,062/sq mi | 1,501/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $402,900 | $283,200 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,441 | $1,601 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 80.0% | 79.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.0% | 24.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 7.4% | 11.7% | 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 | 14 mi | 10 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 26.4 min | 29.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 50.2 | 41.0 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 4 | 20 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 15.21 | 16.95 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 65.4% | 51.6% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 68.1% | 52.8% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 38.7% | 51.9% | 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
Merritt Island
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Palm Bay
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
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Merritt Island
67
Your Score
—
Area Score
Palm Bay
60
Your Score
55
Area Score
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Full profiles: Merritt Island, FL · Palm Bay, FL · How this is calculated: methodology