The Melbourne metro area: Brevard County · Population 632,780 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in the Melbourne area
Household size in the Melbourne area
| Period | Melbourne area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.47 | 2.63 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.50 | 2.73 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.57 | 2.75 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.52 | 2.63 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.05 | +0.00 | −0.03 |
Households in the Melbourne area run a little small, averaging 2.52 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Household size has crept up from 2.47 in 2006–10, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the south.
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 the Melbourne area
| Period | Melbourne area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.4 | 40.8 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 45.7 | 42.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 46.4 | 43.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 46.2 | 43.5 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.7 | +2.7 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 46.2, the Melbourne area is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 44.4, mirroring the country. Few large metro areas are older: only three of 100.
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 the Melbourne area
| Period | Melbourne area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.5% | 12.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.3% | 12.2% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.2% | 11.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.2% | 11.4% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.4 pts | −1.0 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in twelve households in the Melbourne area (9.2%), below the national share of 11.6%. Of the 100 large U.S. metro areas, only seven have a lower share of single-parent households.
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 the Melbourne area
Renters in the Melbourne area
| Period | Melbourne area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.6% | 30.3% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 27.6% | 33.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.7% | 34.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 23.3% | 32.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.3 pts | +2.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 23.3% of households in the Melbourne area rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Just over four in ten owners (42.6%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Rentals cluster in the east; owners are most common in the south. The Melbourne area has the lowest share of renters of any large metro area.
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 the Melbourne area
| Period | Melbourne area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.1% | 17.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.8% | 17.6% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 15.5% | 15.4% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 12.7% | 12.5% | 9.6% |
| Change | −3.5 pts | −4.8 pts | −1.8 pts |
More homes sit empty in the Melbourne area than nationally: 12.7%, against 9.6%. The count includes vacation homes and homes between owners or tenants, not just abandoned ones. Vacancy has fallen 3.5 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 the Melbourne area
| Period | Melbourne area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1984 | 1984 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1985 | 1985 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1986 | 1986 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1988 | 1989 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +5 | +6 |
The Melbourne area has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1988, versus 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1984 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the south, the oldest in the east.
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 the Melbourne area
| Period | Melbourne area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,026 | $1,092 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,034 | $1,123 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,231 | $1,323 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,688 | $1,816 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$661 | +$724 | +$606 |
Rent in the Melbourne area runs $1,688 a month at the median, utilities included, above the U.S. median of $1,571. Still, rents here are lower than in Florida overall ($1,816). Rent has climbed $661 a month since 2006–10, up 64%, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 33.3% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 the Melbourne area
Bachelor's degrees in the Melbourne area
| Period | Melbourne area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.8% | 26.4% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 26.4% | 27.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.6% | 30.0% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 33.8% | 34.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.0 pts | +8.2 pts | +7.2 pts |
About a third of adults 25 and older in the Melbourne area (33.8%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, close to the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 8.0 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the east and least in the northwest.
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 the Melbourne area
| Period | Melbourne area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 90.5% | 85.5% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.4% | 86.5% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 92.0% | 88.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.1% | 90.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | +4.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in the Melbourne area is above the national rate: 93.1% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 2.6 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. The Melbourne area has a higher share of high school graduates than at least four in five large metro areas.
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 the Melbourne area
| Period | Melbourne area | Florida | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.8% | 8.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 12.0% | 11.0% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.2% | 5.7% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.9% | 4.8% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.9 pts | −4.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in the Melbourne area is close to the national rate: 4.9% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.9 points, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Largest cities in the Melbourne area
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne area (all) | 2.52 | 46.2 | 9.2% | 23.3% | 12.7% | 1988 | $1,688 | 33.8% | 93.1% | 4.9% |
| Palm Bay | 2.90 | 41.0 | 13.0% | 19.4% | 9.2% | 1995 | $1,741 | 23.4% | 90.8% | 6.0% |
| Titusville | 2.50 | 46.3 | 9.5% | 24.2% | 17.1% | 1983 | $1,434 | 26.5% | 91.5% | 5.1% |
| Cocoa | 2.47 | 47.7 | 9.1% | 22.1% | 12.8% | 1985 | $1,529 | 24.4% | 91.0% | 4.8% |
| Merritt Island | 2.52 | 49.7 | 8.1% | 21.1% | 15.2% | 1979 | $1,577 | 38.8% | 95.3% | 4.9% |
| Rockledge | 2.44 | 48.3 | 6.5% | 22.9% | 13.9% | 1990 | $1,917 | 35.7% | 94.0% | 4.6% |
| West Melbourne | 2.65 | 41.0 | 9.0% | 23.8% | 9.2% | 1998 | $1,853 | 40.6% | 95.2% | 4.4% |
| Satellite Beach | 2.55 | 44.2 | 7.1% | 15.3% | 12.9% | 1975 | $1,865 | 53.9% | 98.0% | 3.7% |
| Indialantic | 2.22 | 51.7 | 8.0% | 15.9% | 17.7% | 1980 | $1,806 | 55.6% | 98.5% | 4.9% |
| Cocoa Beach | 1.94 | 59.4 | 4.0% | 22.2% | 26.2% | 1976 | $1,726 | 50.7% | 96.8% | 7.8% |
| Port St. John | 2.73 | 45.3 | 10.3% | 6.6% | 11.3% | 1986 | $1,485 | 17.8% | 88.3% | 8.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Metro areas of similar size: Chattanooga area · Spokane area · Chapel Hill area · Harrisburg area · Toledo area · Augusta area · Jackson area · Ogden area · Wichita area · Syracuse area
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 the Melbourne area. 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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