Palm Bay city, Florida Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Palm Bay city is a major urban center located in Florida. The total population is 125,273. It ranks as the 17th most populous out of 953 cities and towns in Florida.

Age Demographics

The median age in Palm Bay city is 41.3 years. This is 3% lower than the state median of 42.6 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Palm Bay city is $67,521. This is 6% lower than the state median of $71,711. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 14% lower. The poverty rate stands at 11.6%. This is 8% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.6%. The unemployment rate is 5.9%. This is 23% higher than the state rate of 4.8%. The median home value is $248,000. Housing costs are 24% lower than the state median of $325,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.7x. 79.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 18% higher than the state average of 67.3%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Palm Bay city is White (non-Hispanic), making up 53.3% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 19.7%.

Education

22.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 32% lower than the state rate of 33.2%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Palm Bay city, Florida is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Florida state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 953 Census-designated places in Florida. For official data, visit data.census.gov.