City Comparison
Palm Bay vs Akron
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Palm Bay scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Palm Bay
Akron
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Akron is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
13% lower than in Palm Bay.
Housing costs are a major driver: Palm Bay's average rent is
78% higher than Akron's.
| Metric | Palm Bay | Akron | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $2,000 | $1,123 | +78% |
| Groceries | $420 | $742 | -43% |
| Utilities | $175 | $234 | -25% |
| Transport | $125 | $357 | -65% |
| Healthcare | $240 | $130 | +85% |
| Monthly Total | $2,960 | $2,586 | +14% |
| Cost Index | 100 | 85 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Akron offers 8% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Akron delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Palm Bay is estimated at
$58,000 vs $66,000 in Akron.
| Metric | Palm Bay | Akron |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $67,000 | $73,000 |
| Salary Needed | $58,000 | $66,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 67,000 idx | 85,882 idx |
| Household Income | $72,614 | $48,076 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Palm Bay runs warmer on average — a 74°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Palm Bay comes out ahead with 194 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Palm Bay sees 0 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Palm Bay | Akron |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 74.00°F | °F |
| Summer High | 88.80°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 57.30°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 51.20 in | in |
| Snowfall | 0.00 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 194 | |
| Humidity | 68.00% | 68.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Akron has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly
3,000 minutes (50 hours) per year compared to Palm Bay.
Palm Bay scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Akron leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Palm Bay | Akron |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 28 min | 22 min |
| Transit Score | 42.0/100 | — |
| Walkability | 45.0/100 | 48.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 48.00 | |
| Car Dependency | High | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Akron is the larger city
— approximately 0.8x the population of Palm Bay.
From a growth perspective, Palm Bay is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Akron has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Palm Bay | Akron |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 148,092 | 189,664 |
| Pop. Growth | 3.58% | — |
| Median Age | 41.0 | 36.9 |
| Unemployment | 4.80% | 3.80% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Palm Bay
Advantages
Median home values remain accessible at approximately $283,200, offering competitive value compared to other Florida coastal markets.
Proximity to high-tech and aerospace giants like L3Harris and Raytheon provides robust local career paths.
Abundant natural recreation areas, including Turkey Creek Sanctuary and access to the Indian River Lagoon.
Strategic infrastructure enhancements like the St. Johns Heritage Parkway improve local transit connectivity.
Favorable subtropical climate with roughly 194 sunny days per year and mild winter averages.
Drawbacks
High population growth rate has placed upward pressure on local rental and housing inventories.
Car dependency is high, with limited public mass transit options across the sprawling 86-square-mile city footprint.
Summer heat and humidity can be intense, accompanied by high seasonal rainfall during tropical storm months.
Traffic congestion concentrates heavily during peak hours along major arteries like Palm Bay Road and Malabar Road.
Pockets of the city experience vulnerability to localized heavy rainfall and temporary urban flooding.
Akron
Advantages
The overall cost of living in Akron is 15% lower than the national average, making it a highly affordable city.
Housing costs are significantly lower than the national average, with average monthly rent at $1,123 and median home prices around $153,000.
Akron has a diverse economy with strong industries including healthcare, manufacturing, and the polymer sector.
The city offers a public transportation system (METRO RTA) with affordable monthly passes at $50.
Healthcare costs in Akron are approximately 14% lower than the national average.
Drawbacks
Akron has a high crime rate, with an overall crime rate 50% above the national average and a safety grade of C-.
The city is experiencing a projected population decline of -0.9% annually.
Akron has a negative job growth rate, with a 0.461% decline in employed population in 2024.
The lifestyle in Akron is largely car-dependent, with most errands requiring a vehicle and an average Walk Score of 48.
The median household income of $48,076 in 2024 is below the national average.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Palm Bay
#196Florida, USA
63.9 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,000
Avg Salary
$67,000
Cost Index
100
Commute
28 min
Transit Score
42.0/100
Walkability
45.0/100
Sunny Days
194/yr
Avg Temp
74.00°F
Pop. Growth
3.58%
Unemployment
4.80%
Livability
74
Business
72
Akron
#575Ohio, USA
46.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,123
Avg Salary
$73,000
Cost Index
85
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
48.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
3.80%
Livability
65
Business
55
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