Palm Bay FL
Florida · Pop. 130,132
Palm Bay, FL: median household income of $72,614, median rent of $1,601/mo, 6.1% unemployment. Our verdict: It Depends.
Score Breakdown
Key Metrics
Median Income
$72,614
per year
Median Rent
$1,601
per month
Median Home
$283k
home value
Unemployment
6.1%
of labor force
Poverty Rate
11.7%
below poverty line
Avg. Commute
28 min
one way
City Reality Check honest
"Palm Bay, FL Reality Check"
In Palm Bay, the rent-to-income burden runs around 26% — acceptable by national standards. Median income sits at $72,614 and median rent is $1,601/month. A staggering 55% of renters here are housing-cost-burdened — spending 30% or more of their income just to keep a roof overhead. Median home value: $283,200 — that's 3.9× the median income. 80% of households own their home — unusually high for a major US city. Residents put down roots here. Employment picture: 6.07% unemployment — a average employment landscape. Poverty rate: 11.7%. Average commute: 28 minutes — acceptable. Palm Bay was founded in 1960 — that's 66 years of history baked into the streets. The city covers 68.9 sq miles at 1,890 people/sq mile — spread out. Elevation: 16 ft — essentially flat — floods are a real conversation. RoastMyCity overall score: 61/100 — It Depends.