Population 46,151 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Cocoa
Household size in Cocoa
| Period | Cocoa | Melbourne area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.48 | 2.47 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.54 | 2.50 | 2.73 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.66 | 2.57 | 2.75 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.47 | 2.52 | 2.63 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.01 | +0.05 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in Cocoa run small, averaging 2.47 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. That is in line with the rest of the Melbourne area. Households are largest in the west and smallest in the southeast.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Cocoa
| Period | Cocoa | Melbourne area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.1 | 44.4 | 40.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.4 | 45.7 | 42.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 44.7 | 46.4 | 43.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 47.7 | 46.2 | 43.5 | 40.1 |
| Change | +7.6 | +1.7 | +2.7 | +2.3 |
Cocoa skews older: half of its residents are older than 47.7, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 40.1 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Cocoa
| Period | Cocoa | Melbourne area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.3% | 9.5% | 12.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.2% | 10.3% | 12.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.4% | 9.2% | 11.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.1% | 9.2% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.2 pts | −0.4 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Cocoa than nationally: 9.1%, against 11.6%. The Melbourne area as a whole looks much the same. The single-parent share has fallen 3.2 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Cocoa
Renters in Cocoa
| Period | Cocoa | Melbourne area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.1% | 23.6% | 30.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 28.5% | 27.6% | 33.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 26.5% | 25.7% | 34.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.1% | 23.3% | 32.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −0.3 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 22.1% of households in Cocoa rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 40.5% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Rentals cluster in the east; owners are most common in the northwest. The renter share has fallen 2.0 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Cocoa
| Period | Cocoa | Melbourne area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 12.3% | 16.1% | 17.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 15.9% | 16.8% | 17.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 17.1% | 15.5% | 15.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.8% | 12.7% | 12.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | −3.5 pts | −4.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
More homes sit empty in Cocoa than nationally: 12.8%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. The Melbourne area as a whole looks much the same.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Cocoa
| Period | Cocoa | Melbourne area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1982 | 1984 | 1984 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1983 | 1985 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1983 | 1986 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1988 | 1989 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +4 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in Cocoa are a bit newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1985, versus 1980 across the U.S. The median year built has moved up from 1982 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the west, the oldest in the southeast.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Cocoa
| Period | Cocoa | Melbourne area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $922 | $1,026 | $1,092 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $949 | $1,034 | $1,123 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,069 | $1,231 | $1,323 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,529 | $1,688 | $1,816 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$607 | +$661 | +$724 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Cocoa costs $1,529 a month with utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents here are lower than in the Melbourne area as a whole ($1,688). Rents are up $607 a month from 2006–10, a 66% jump, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 32.3% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Cocoa
Bachelor's degrees in Cocoa
| Period | Cocoa | Melbourne area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.9% | 25.8% | 26.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.7% | 26.4% | 27.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.4% | 29.6% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 24.4% | 33.8% | 34.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.5 pts | +8.0 pts | +8.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in Cocoa: 24.4% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 8.5 points, mirroring the country.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Cocoa
| Period | Cocoa | Melbourne area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.8% | 90.5% | 85.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.3% | 90.4% | 86.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.1% | 92.0% | 88.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.0% | 93.1% | 90.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.2 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Cocoa have finished high school (91.0%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. Still, the rate is lower than in the Melbourne area as a whole (93.1%). Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 3.2 points, as it has nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Cocoa
| Period | Cocoa | Melbourne area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.6% | 8.8% | 8.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 13.0% | 12.0% | 11.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.4% | 5.2% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.8% | 4.9% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.7 pts | −3.9 pts | −4.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Cocoa is close to the national rate: 4.8% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 3.7 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Cocoa compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cocoa | 2.47 | 47.7 | 9.1% | 22.1% | 12.8% | 1985 | $1,529 | 24.4% | 91.0% | 4.8% |
| Cocoa West | 2.45 | 39.8 | 17.1% | 47.6% | 15.2% | 1971 | $1,499 | 17.8% | 85.1% | 3.3% |
| Port St. John | 2.73 | 45.3 | 10.3% | 6.6% | 11.3% | 1986 | $1,485 | 17.8% | 88.3% | 8.2% |
| Merritt Island | 2.52 | 49.7 | 8.1% | 21.1% | 15.2% | 1979 | $1,577 | 38.8% | 95.3% | 4.9% |
| Bellwood | 2.90 | 45.8 | 9.5% | 37.8% | 11.3% | 1987 | $1,193 | 15.7% | 95.1% | 0.0% |
| Rockledge | 2.44 | 48.3 | 6.5% | 22.9% | 13.9% | 1990 | $1,917 | 35.7% | 94.0% | 4.6% |
| Cape Canaveral | 1.69 | 60.5 | 5.0% | 40.2% | 32.7% | 1985 | $1,613 | 37.0% | 96.1% | 3.6% |
| Cocoa Beach | 1.94 | 59.4 | 4.0% | 22.2% | 26.2% | 1976 | $1,726 | 50.7% | 96.8% | 7.8% |
| Titusville | 2.50 | 46.3 | 9.5% | 24.2% | 17.1% | 1983 | $1,434 | 26.5% | 91.5% | 5.1% |
| Christmas | 2.60 | 50.0 | 6.9% | 8.7% | 7.5% | 1999 | $1,798 | 34.0% | 88.4% | 0.8% |
| Wedgefield | 3.11 | 42.5 | 5.0% | 10.4% | 5.0% | 2003 | $2,289 | 42.7% | 95.0% | 2.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Zanesville, OH · Alvin, TX · Strongsville, OH · Taylors, SC · Thomasville, NC · Toa Alta, PR · Valrico, FL · Columbus, MS · Clarkston, MI · Chillicothe, OH
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Cocoa. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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