Signals
Palm Bay
Merritt Island
Climate
83 · Top 10%
vs83 · Top 10%
Physical resilience
19 · Bottom 12%
vs19 · Bottom 12%
Housing affordability
70 · Bottom 35%
vs85 · Top 43%
Schools
43 · Bottom 39%
vs77 · Top 18%
Access
99 · Top 14%
vs95 · Top 34%
Economic stability
50 · Bottom 31%
vs43 · Bottom 22%
Measured values
| Metric | Palm Bay | Merritt Island | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 130,132 | 34,992 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $72,614 | $94,012 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $34,813 | $56,114 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 1,501/sq mi | 2,062/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $283,200 | $402,900 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,601 | $1,441 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 79.7% | 80.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.0% | 41.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 11.7% | 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 | 10 mi | 14 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 29.9 min | 26.4 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 41.0 | 50.2 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 20 | 4 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 16.95 | 15.21 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 51.6% | 65.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 52.8% | 68.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 51.9% | 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
Palm Bay
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Merritt Island
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Palm Bay
60
Your Score
55
Area Score
Merritt Island
67
Your Score
—
Area Score
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Full profiles: Palm Bay, FL · Merritt Island, FL · How this is calculated: methodology