Palm Bay FL vs Scottsdale AZ — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Palm Bay, FL

Florida · Population: 125,273

  • Median HH Income$67,521
  • Median Home Price$304,173
  • Unemployment5.9%
  • Bachelor's+22.6%

Scottsdale, AZ

Arizona · Population: 242,169

  • Median HH Income$107,372
  • Median Home Price$858,307
  • Unemployment3.4%
  • Bachelor's+61.5%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Palm Bay
125,273
Scottsdale
242,169
Scottsdale +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Palm Bay
N/A
Scottsdale
N/A
Median Age
Palm Bay
41.3
Palm Bay +
Scottsdale
49.2
Foreign Born
Palm Bay
15.1%
Palm Bay +
Scottsdale
11.2%
White
Palm Bay
59.2%
Scottsdale
81.8%
Scottsdale +
Black
Palm Bay
19.3%
Palm Bay +
Scottsdale
2.0%
Asian
Palm Bay
2.1%
Scottsdale
5.1%
Scottsdale +
Hispanic
Palm Bay
19.7%
Palm Bay +
Scottsdale
9.4%
Spanish at Home
Palm Bay
N/A
Scottsdale
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Palm Bay
$67,521
Scottsdale
$107,372
Scottsdale +
Per Capita Income
Palm Bay
$34,474
Scottsdale
$82,697
Scottsdale +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Palm Bay
$65,328
Palm Bay +
Scottsdale
$59,120
Unemployment Rate
Palm Bay
5.9%
Scottsdale
3.4%
Scottsdale +
Poverty Rate
Palm Bay
11.6%
Scottsdale
7.1%
Scottsdale +
Bachelor's Degree+
Palm Bay
22.6%
Scottsdale
61.5%
Scottsdale +

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Palm Bay
$304,173
Palm Bay +
Scottsdale
$858,307
Homeownership Rate
Palm Bay
79.3%
Palm Bay +
Scottsdale
67.6%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Palm Bay
324
Palm Bay +
Scottsdale
450
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Palm Bay
1453
Palm Bay +
Scottsdale
2150

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Palm Bay
36.5%
Scottsdale
26.2%
Scottsdale +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Palm Bay
14.0%
Scottsdale
9.4%
Scottsdale +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Palm Bay
17.6%
Scottsdale
12.1%
Scottsdale +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Palm Bay
14.2%
Scottsdale
6.3%
Scottsdale +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Palm Bay
14.4%
Palm Bay +
Scottsdale
15.4%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Palm Bay
14.5%
Scottsdale
7.4%
Scottsdale +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Palm Bay
N/A
Scottsdale
72.5°F
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Palm Bay
N/A
Scottsdale
10.3 in

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Palm Bay
7.2 µg/m³
Scottsdale
7.1 µg/m³
Scottsdale +
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Palm Bay
75.0%
Scottsdale
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Palm Bay
29.6 min
Scottsdale
23.2 min
Scottsdale +

Which City is Right for You?

Scottsdale leads in median household income at $107,372, while palm Bay offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $304,173. On public safety, Palm Bay is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 450 in Scottsdale. Scottsdale has a lower unemployment rate at 3.4%, and Scottsdale has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.1 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Scottsdale scores better with a lower obesity rate of 26.2%.

Compare More Cities

About Palm Bay & Scottsdale