Gainesville, FL vs Melbourne, FL
Side-by-side comparison of housing, income, commute, safety, and quality of life.
Score Snapshot
No universal winner
Scores summarize the published model. Use the objective metric differences below and your own priorities to choose.
Gainesville
68
#1355 nationally
Melbourne
69.9
#1158 nationally
Melbourne leads in crime level (7.6 vs 20.2). Melbourne leads in median household income ($60,917 vs $43,783). Gainesville leads in average commute (18.8 min vs 22.5 min).
Metric-by-Metric Breakdown
| Metric | Gainesville, FL | Melbourne, FL |
|---|---|---|
| WhereAtHome Score | 68 (#1355) | 69.9 (#1158) |
| Population | 145,812 | 86,960 |
| Typical Home Value (ZHVI) | $298,659 | $360,012 |
| Median Household Income | $43,783 | $60,917 |
| Average Commute | 18.8 min | 22.5 min |
| Walk Score | 37 | 33 |
| Crime Level | 20.2 | 7.6 |
| School Rating | N/A | N/A |
| Cost of Living Index | 104 | 105 |
| Political lean County 2024 presidential margin — context only, not scored | D+21.0 | R+20.8 |
D+
68 Score
Gainesville, FL
Mid-size Florida city with community character
Median Home
$298,659
Population
145,812
Crime
High
Walk Score
37
Southeast
View Gainesville, FL →
D+
69.9 Score
Melbourne, FL
Florida community balancing growth and livability
Median Home
$360,012
Population
86,960
Crime
Moderate
Walk Score
33
Southeast
View Melbourne, FL →
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