Palm Bay 71 Excellent
Palm Bay Livability #380 ranked city in Florida#6,086 ranked city in the USARanks better than 79% of areas

Palm Bay, FL - The Bass Fishing Capital of the World

Palm Bay, Florida, known as "The Bass Fishing Capital of the World," is a vibrant and growing city located on Florida's Space Coast. With its beautiful natural surroundings, strong economy, and family-friendly atmosphere, Palm Bay offers a high quality of life for its residents. The city's blend of suburban charm and modern amenities makes living in Palm Bay an attractive option for families and professionals.

Residents of Palm Bay enjoy a variety of recreational activities and community events. The city's numerous parks, trails, and recreational facilities provide ample opportunities for outdoor activities. Turkey Creek Sanctuary and Palm Bay Regional Park are popular destinations for hiking, biking, and wildlife viewing. The city also hosts numerous festivals and events, including the annual Palm Bay Holiday Parade and the Palm Bay Fair.

Palm Bay's strong economy is supported by a diverse range of industries, including aerospace, healthcare, and technology. The city's proximity to major employers such as Harris Corporation and Health First provides residents with ample job opportunities. The presence of these institutions contributes to Palm Bay's vibrant economic and cultural environment.

The cost of living in Palm Bay is relatively affordable compared to other parts of Florida, making it an attractive option for families and young professionals. The housing market includes a variety of options, from single-family homes in suburban neighborhoods to modern apartments and condos. The city's strong sense of community and welcoming atmosphere further enhance its appeal.

Public transportation in Palm Bay is provided by Space Coast Area Transit (SCAT), facilitating easy commutes within the city and to neighboring areas. Palm Bay's climate features hot, humid summers and mild winters, allowing for year-round outdoor activities. Overall, Palm Bay offers a blend of natural beauty, economic opportunity, and community spirit, making it a desirable place to live.

Pros and Cons of Living in Palm Bay

PROS
  • Cost Of Living

    Taking into account the cost of goods and services like housing, groceries, transportation and utilities, the overall cost of living in this area is well below average.

  • Housing

    High scores in the housing category are a distinguishing feature of this area, possibly driven by a favorable home affordability ratio, higher home values and appreciation rates.

CONS
  • Amenities

    The majority of amenities are not ideally located within walking distance. To access these amenities, residents may be required to rely on a vehicle or public transit.

  • Health & Safety

    The low score in this category could be due to challenges related to air quality and the limited accessibility of health-related facilities like hospitals, nursing homes, doctors and pharmacies.

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What's it like Living in Palm Bay?

Palm Bay, Florida is a moderately-sized city with a population of 113,751 residents. At 69%, the majority of the Palm Bay population is White; this is followed by 19% Black and 2% Asian. The average American spends about 26 minutes on their one way commute to work each day. Lower travel times can increase overall happiness and allow for more time to be spent with family and friends. While living in Palm Bay, your commute times will be about average, with a one way commute time of 28 minutes.

Without the right tools, relocating to any new town can be very stressful and challenging. Living in Palm Bay, Florida could be a positive experience for anyone who puts in the effort to do the research required. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is paramount, ensuring a secure environment for you and your family. Proximity to workplaces or schools reduces commuting time and enhances convenience. Access to amenities like parks, grocery stores and healthcare facilities contributes to a comfortable lifestyle. Reliable public transportation options promote easy mobility. A strong sense of community fosters social connections and a welcoming atmosphere. Finding the best places to live in Palm Bay and nearby areas is a much easier task when you can rely on information and data from the livability score, which includes amenities, cost of living, education, employment, housing and other important metrics.

With a livability score of 72/100, Palm Bay is ranked #4,862 in the United States and #299 in Florida. If we dig down a little deeper into each category within the livability score, we see that Palm Bay has higher than average rankings for the following: crime (B-), cost of living (A+) and housing (A+). Palm Bay does not rank well for the following: amenities (F) and employment (D). It might be a good idea to take a closer look at each category to find out why.

A robust real estate market serves as a crucial economic indicator, reflecting the local area's strength, stability and the confidence of its residents. Palm Bay excels in the housing sector, scoring high marks based on factors such as median home and rental prices, appreciation rates and home affordability. These calculations suggest that the apartment rental and real estate market in the region is exceptionally healthy, highlighting the area's economic vitality and attractiveness to potential homebuyers and renters.

Being close to public transit, grocery stores, parks and other conveniences are all important when weighing your options for a new home in Palm Bay. Before you determine if any of these amenities are available in the area, you will also want to know if the real estate prices in Palm Bay are affordable. Median real estate prices in Palm Bay come in at $172,200, which is 3.2% higher than the Florida average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Palm Bay, the home price to income ratio is 3.3, which is 2.9% lower than the Florida average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Palm Bay

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Compare Palm Bay, FL Livability

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      Palm Bay transportation information

      Statistic Palm Bay Florida National
      Average one way commute28min27min26min
      Workers who drive to work84.2%79.5%76.4%
      Workers who carpool8.8%9.3%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.3%2.1%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle0.8%0.7%0.6%
      Workers who walk0.3%1.5%2.8%
      Working from home4.5%5.4%4.6%
      Source: The Palm Bay, FL data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).