The Town FilesPalm Bay, Florida
City in Brevard County · population 119,760 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $283,200
- Household income
- $72,614
- Jan low / Jul high
- 49° / 91°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 24
- Median age
- 41.0
Palm Bay is a city of 119,760 people in Brevard County, Florida. The median home is worth $283,200, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 88% of Florida towns, better for families than 76% of Florida towns, better for cycling than 72% of Florida towns.
How Palm Bay ranks
Percentile among Florida towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Florida towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Palm Bay is worth $283,200, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $72,614, which is more affordable than 70% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,601 a month. 79.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Palm Bay | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $283,200 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,601 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $72,614 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 79.7% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1993 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.7% | — |
Who lives in Palm Bay
| People | Palm Bay | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.0 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.0% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.0% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.7% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 9.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 16.0% | — |
| Work from home | 11.0% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 27.8 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.8% | 92.4% |
Weather in Palm Bay
July highs average 91.3°F and January lows 49.0°F. About 55.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 102 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 1 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palm Bay since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on October 24, 2005 about 8.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on September 7, 2025.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on March 17, 2003.
Severe weather in Brevard County since 1996
Brevard County has been included in 45 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 11, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4834: Hurricane Milton |
| October 7, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3622: Hurricane Milton |
| August 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4806: Hurricane Debby |
| August 3, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3605: Tropical Storm Debby |
| August 31, 2023 | Hurricane | DR-4734: Hurricane Idalia |
Jobs and pay in Brevard County
Brevard County had 242,124 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $68,051 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Palm Bay itself the ACS puts it at 6.1%.
Public schools in Palm Bay
20 public schools with 17,351 students, about 17.6 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAYSIDE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,040 | 21.9 |
| HERITAGE HIGH SCHOOL | 9-12 | 2,023 | 23.8 |
| ODYSSEY CHARTER SCHOOL (charter) | K-12 | 1,913 | 22.0 |
| PINEAPPLE COVE CLASSICAL ACADEMY (charter) | K-12 | 1,067 | 15.9 |
| SOUTHWEST MIDDLE SCHOOL | 7-8 | 899 | 17.3 |
| SUNRISE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 868 | 17.7 |
| WESTSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 867 | 16.7 |
| JUPITER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 852 | 17.0 |
| PINEAPPLE COVE CLASSICAL ACADEMY AT LOCKMAR (charter) | K-8 | 692 | 14.7 |
| DISCOVERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 681 | 15.8 |
| CHRISTA MCAULIFFE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 647 | 15.0 |
| RIVIERA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 646 | 15.0 |
Towns near Palm Bay
- Malabar, FL5.5 mi · 2,949 people · home $451,100
- Grant-Valkaria, FL6.2 mi · 4,509 people · home $550,400
- West Melbourne, FL6.6 mi · 25,924 people · home $377,100
- June Park, FL8.2 mi · 4,283 people · home $411,200
- Melbourne Beach, FL10.1 mi · 3,231 people · home $708,400
- Melbourne, FL10.8 mi · 84,678 people · home $306,400
- Indialantic, FL10.8 mi · 3,010 people · home $604,200
- Micco, FL11.6 mi · 9,574 people · home $172,600
Palm Bay questions
Is Palm Bay, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Palm Bay scores better for retirees than 26% of Florida towns and quieter than 42%. 19.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.0).
How much does a house cost in Palm Bay?
The median owner-occupied home in Palm Bay is valued at $283,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,614, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,601 a month.
What is the weather like in Palm Bay?
July highs average 91.3°F and January lows 49.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 55.5 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Palm Bay get tornadoes?
24 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Palm Bay since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on October 24, 2005. The typical Florida town has had 35.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)