C-

Cocoa, FL

Source:

Affordability Score: 50/100

Population: 65,760 · 3 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Cocoa, FL aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes covering 65,760 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C- (50/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $71,330, median home value of $263,786, median rent of $1,377 per month, and 23.2% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,709 per month (studio $1,266, 1BR $1,478, 3BR $2,330, 4BR $2,645). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $10,400 per year, consuming 15% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Pressure points are education. Unemployment currently reads 5.3% and poverty 13.6% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income C
$71,330
Median household income
Education F
23.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing D
3.7x
Home value $263,786 vs income
Commute D
28 min
Average commute time
Rent C-
$1,709/mo
2BR fair market rent (29% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare C-
$10,400/yr
Center-based infant care (15% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$71,330
▲ 15% vs national
Per Capita Income
$38,592
Unemployment Rate
5.3%
Poverty Rate
13.6%

Housing

Median Home Value
$263,786
▼ 4% vs national
Median Rent
$1,377/mo
Owner Occupied
78.8%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,709/mo
▲ 42% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,266
1BR
$1,478
2BR
$1,709
3BR
$2,330
4BR
$2,645

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
23.2%
▼ 7 ppt vs national
High School+
55.0%
Median Age
45.8
Avg. Commute
28 min
▲ 2 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$10,400/yr
15% of income
Toddler (Center)
$8,684/yr
Preschool (Center)
$8,060/yr
School-Age (Center)
$6,500/yr

What This Means

Cocoa, FL receives an overall affordability grade of C- (50/100), aggregated from 3 ZIP codes with a total population of 65,760. Challenges include education. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Cocoa ZIP Codes
View all 3 ZIP codes with demographics and individual scorecards
View ZIPs →

What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Cocoa, FL affordable?
Cocoa, FL receives an overall affordability grade of C- (50/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $71,330. Median home value is $263,786.
What is the cost of living in Cocoa?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,377/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,709/mo. Infant childcare $10,400/yr. Median home value $263,786.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →