City profile · Florida · Census ACS 2023

West Melbourne, FL

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for West Melbourne - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

27,643
Residents
$90,521
Median income
$341,500
Median home
$1,709
Median rent (state)

West Melbourne - the verdict

West Melbourne ranks in the 71st percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

71st
percentile, household income
71st
percentile, home value
68th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: West Melbourne, FL

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 27,643 residents in West Melbourne, a small city within Florida. Median household income here is $90,521 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 3.7%. Typical homes in West Melbourne are valued around $341,500, and the median resident age is 40.2 years. 40.4% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 58.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 59 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 95% from five years earlier.

Florida carries a cost-of-living premium: the state registers 103.4 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Above Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,709 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $225 across Florida, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Commute times here average 19.9 minutes, with 76.4% driving alone and 13.9% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 98.4 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

27,643 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Florida

Median Household Income

$90,521 /yr

Poverty 3.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

103.4 (US=100)

Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, Florida average

How does West Melbourne compare to other US cities?

Here's how West Melbourne stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 71% higher than other cities
Home value 71% pricier than other cities
Median rent 68% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below West Melbourne's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Florida, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

71stIncome percentile

71st percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How West Melbourne's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$341,500 29th percentile more affordable than 29% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. West Melbourne $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - West Melbourne, FL West Melbourne, FL's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not West Melbourne, FL-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution West Melbourne, FL median $90,521/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
West Melbourne, FL's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for West Melbourne, FL. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 40.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 3.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 58.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
27,643
Median Income
$90,521
Median Home Value
$341,500
Median Age
40.2
Poverty Rate
3.7%
Labor force participation
58.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
40.4%

Schools

Total Schools
7
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
26,000 residents28,000 residents30,000 residents32,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 26,583 residents 31,285 residents ▲ +17.7%
West Melbourne's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
59
housing units authorized
Single-Family
15
detached homes
Multifamily
44
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1,218
2020 637
2021 399
2022 107
2023 1,023
2024 59

Permit volume decreased 95% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
19.9 minutes
Drive Alone
76.4%
Carpool
7.3%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.8%
Work from Home
13.9%
Other
1.6%

Based on 12,844 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Florida - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$145
avg/month
Natural Gas
$25
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$55
avg/month
Total Utilities
$225
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Florida state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Florida state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county West Melbourne sits in

Cost of Living Index
103.4
Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,709/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
98.4 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Florida

Silver Springs Shores
27,556 people
Crestview
28,046 people
Wright
27,233 people
Citrus Park
28,163 people
Rockledge
28,279 people
Apollo Beach
28,347 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to West Melbourne's 27,643 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Drexel Heights, AZ
27,636 people
Dodge City, KS
27,652 people
Williamsport, PA
27,629 people
Mount Pleasant, WI
27,694 people
Lochearn, MD
27,591 people
Homewood, AL
27,697 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to West Melbourne's $90,521 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Sun Prairie, WI
$90,521 median income
Fife, WA
$90,515 median income
Pataskala, OH
$90,513 median income
Sunriver, OR
$90,529 median income
Zachary, LA
$90,507 median income
Carroll Valley, PA
$90,505 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - West Melbourne, FL Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition West Melbourne, FL - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 75.1% 6.5% 9.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 13.8% White 75.1% Black or African American 4.1% Asian 6.5% American Indian 1.1% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 3.7% Two or more races 9.5% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How West Melbourne compares to nearby Florida cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
West Melbourne (this city) 27,643 $90,521
Silver Springs Shores 27,556 $60,543
Crestview 28,046 $69,279
Wright 27,233 $67,077
Census ACS 5-year FIPS FL NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about West Melbourne, FL?

What is the population of West Melbourne, FL? +

27,643 people live in West Melbourne, FL according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in West Melbourne, FL? +

The median household income in West Melbourne is $90,521 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in West Melbourne? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for West Melbourne; the closest available measure is the Florida state average, a cost of living index of 103.4 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Florida vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in West Melbourne, FL? +

West Melbourne's median home value sits at $341,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.