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Cost of living, pay and housing

27.92° N · 82.38° W · GEOID 1254387

Palm River-Clair Mel

Hillsborough County, Florida · part of the Tampa, FL metro

Computed by Citytistics from 13 public sources · Data bundle checked 2026-11-14 · How we calculate

FloridaPalm River-Clair Mel, FLPalm River-Clair MelPalm River-Clair Mel

The short answer

Palm River-Clair Mel is home to 27,844 people. Median household income is $71,787 a year and median rent is $1,525 a month, 25.5% of income (a ratio of two medians, not any one household's burden). Rent pressure is moderate. The median home is valued at $271,700, about 3.8x annual median household income.

Palm River-Clair Mel is defined by its growth. Household income growth is 8.4% a year, against 5.6% a year in its closest peers. Also notable: Owning with a mortgage costs only about $31 a month more than the median rent, a smaller gap than in 95% of places its size.

14OF 100

CTXCitytistics Index

Weak

Palm River-Clair Mel scores better than 14% of the 6,612 places we rate, and ranks 332nd of 474 in Florida.

How the CTX is built

Category ratings · 0 to 100, typical place 50

Affordability 20%34
Economy 20%47
Safety 20%n/a
Amenities 15%31
Education 10%34
Commute 10%20
Growth 5%n/a

Not rated: safety, growth, for want of data (the city police department does not report a full year to the FBI). The other weights are spread over the categories rated.

Median gross rent
$1,525
12% above the median place
Median household income
$71,787
11% below the median place
Median home value
$271,700
15% below the median place
Unemployment
4.7%
3% below the median place

Compared with the median of the 6,645 places we track. The bundle was checked 2026-11-14; each measure may refer to an older release.

What stands out about Palm River-Clair Mel

  • Life nearbyOpenStreetMap shows 0.7 grocery stores per 10,000 residents, fewer than in 91% of the 987 places of 25,000 to 50,000 people we track.
  • AffordabilityThe median rent takes 25.5% of the median household's income, a bigger share than in 82% of the 987 places of 25,000 to 50,000 people we track.
01

Moving to Palm River-Clair Mel

Hillsborough County loses about 1.0 residents per 1,000 a year to moves between counties.

Moved in81,755
Moved out82,941
Net−1,186

Where people come from and where they go, top counties

Pasco County, FL6,98015,086−8,106
Pinellas County, FL7,4237,164+259
Polk County, FL3,5885,992−2,404
Manatee County, FL2,2972,128+169
Miami-Dade County, FL2,6031,246+1,357
Orange County, FL1,9031,652+251
Broward County, FL1,720896+824
Hernando County, FL2,449

Within Florida, other states or abroad

Arrivals
Leavers
Within FloridaOther statesAbroad

Income per tax return

Arrivals$78K
Leavers$72K

People on tax returns who moved between counties, from IRS migration data, 2022 to 2023. Figures are for all of Hillsborough County; flows under 20 returns are not published.

Who moves here
5.0% of residents arrived from another county in the past year, 2.6% from another state.
Who arrives and who leaves
Households moving into Hillsborough County report $78,000 a year in income on average; those leaving, $72,400, so newcomers earn more than leavers.
Income you would need
$61,000 a year to rent the median home at the 30% line. From your city
Rent or buy
Median rent is $1,525 a month; owners with a mortgage pay $1,556 a month including taxes and insurance, on a median home of $271,700.
Getting to work
31 minutes each way on average; 16.8% work from home.
If it is close but not quite
West Sacramento, CA matches it on character for less of your income. Compare the two
Moved from another state1
2.6%
32% above the median place
Moved here in the past year1
5.0%
12% below the median place
Income of households moving in7
$77,979
10% above the median place
All 5 moving measures
MeasurePalm River-Clair MelAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Moved here in the past year15.0%12% below
Moved from another state12.6%32% above
Net movers per 1,000 people7County figure-1.067% below
Income of households moving in7County figure$77,97910% above
Income of households moving out7County figure$72,3663% above
02

What it costs to live here

62% of renter households spend 30% or more of income on rent, a higher share than in 89% of the 986 places of 25,000 to 50,000 people we track.

Palm River-Clair Mel25.5%
Typical place20.4%

Share of the median household income that goes to the median rent. Above 30% is the usual stress line.

Income needed to rent
$61,000
a year, at the 30% line
Rent to income
25.5%
25% above the median place
Home price to income
3.8x
1% below the median place

Could you afford it?

The median rent would take
25%
just under the 30% line
Left after rent, in US prices
$56,100
a year
Vs the typical household here
Same
as the median household

Uses the median rent in Palm River-Clair Mel, $1,525 a month, and local prices for everything else (95.8 against a US average of 100). It runs in your browser and stores nothing.

Like Palm River-Clair Mel, but easier on the budget

Places that match Palm River-Clair Mel on character (size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, remote work and climate) but where rent takes a clearly smaller share of income. Cost was left out of the match on purpose.

PlaceMatchRent to incomeMore left a year
West Sacramento, CA9321.4% vs 25.5%$16,000Compare
Woodland, CA8921.1% vs 25.5%$14,100Compare
Smyrna, TN8721.4% vs 25.5%$12,200Compare
Fuller Heights, FL8521.1% vs 25.5%$10,600Compare

Moving from somewhere else? Work out the salary you would need in Palm River-Clair Mel.

Sponsored · exampleMoving to Palm River-Clair Mel? Compare quotes from licensed movers. No partner is signed yet. Sponsored offers are always labelled and never change the data.
Renters paying 30%+1
62.2%
23% above the median place
Median year built1
1993
1% above the median place
Property tax paid (median)1
$1,805
45% below the median place
All 16 cost and housing measures
MeasurePalm River-Clair MelAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median gross rent1$1,52512% above
Rent to income125.5%25% above
Property tax rate10.7%27% below
Home price to income13.8x1% below
Prices vs US average2Metro figure100.90% above
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms3County figure$1,91719% above
HUD area median income4County figure$104,7002% below
Property tax paid (median)1$1,80545% below
Median home value1$271,70015% below
Home prices, 1-year change5County figure1.7%48% below
Home prices, 5-year change5County figure63.3%23% above
Homeownership160.5%9% below
Renters paying 30%+162.2%23% above
Owner costs with a mortgage1$1,55617% below
Vacant homes16.5%8% below
Median year built119931% above
03

Work and pay

Mean commute is 31 min, 23% above the median place.

Mean commute1
31 min
23% above the median place
Income per person1
$31,732
21% below the median place
Works from home1
16.8%
35% above the median place

More on work and pay, against the typical place

Poverty rate13.1% +22%
Median household income$71,787 −11%
Unemployment4.7% −3%
All 10 work and pay measures
MeasurePalm River-Clair MelAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Median household income1$71,78711% below
Income per person1$31,73221% below
Unemployment14.7%3% below
Average annual pay6County figure$77,99818% above
Pay growth, 1 year6County figure3.6%3% below
Jobs6County figure795,729above (median 150,665)
Poverty rate113.1%22% above
Mean commute131 min23% above
Works from home116.8%35% above
Commutes by transit1County figure0.8%9% below
04

Who lives here

High school or higher is 82.2%, 11% below the median place.

High school or higher1
82.2%
11% below the median place
No health insurance1
13.6%
112% above the median place
Born abroad1
24.0%
172% above the median place

More about who lives here, against the typical place

Median age34.9 −11%
Household size2.8 +11%
Bachelor's or higher25.0% −22%
Homes with broadband92.1% −0%
All 8 people measures
MeasurePalm River-Clair MelAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Population127,8441654th largest
Median age134.911% below
Bachelor's or higher125.0%22% below
High school or higher182.2%11% below
Household size12.811% above
Born abroad124.0%172% above
No health insurance113.6%112% above
Homes with broadband192.1%0% below
05

Life in Palm River-Clair Mel

About 0 km of named paths and bike trails are mapped in and around the city, fewer than in 91% of the 987 places of 25,000 to 50,000 people we track. It is the lowest of 474 Florida places we track.

101 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places, 4 of them National Historic Landmarks. Its history on Wikipedia

Out the door, against the typical place

Parks per 10k residents6.5 −36%
Playgrounds per 10k3.6 −62%
Grocery stores per 10k0.7 −66%
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k0.4 −97%
Libraries per 10k0.7 −17%
Named paths and bike trails0 km −100%
Bus and rail stops per sq mi7.4 35.4×

Mapped by volunteers in OpenStreetMap inside the city limits (Census boundaries), so coverage is fuller in some places than others. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

National Park Service sites nearby

  • De Soto National Memorial 32 miles
  • Canaveral National Seashore 114 miles
  • Fort Matanzas National Monument 142 miles

Businesses per 10,000 residents (county figures)

Restaurants and bars18.0 −13%
Shops31.2 +3%
Arts, recreation and fitness4.5 +10%
Doctors' offices and clinics26.5 +31%
Child care centers2.4 +4%

Counts businesses with paid staff, so small owner-run shops are not included.

Nearest National Park Service site10
32.1
4% above the median place
Public school students12
220,863
above the median place (median 4,897)
Public schools12
294
above the median place (median 9)
All 18 schools and local life measures
MeasurePalm River-Clair MelAmong 6,645 placesVs median
Public schools12County figure294above (median 9)
Public school students12County figure220,863above (median 4,897)
Students per teacher12County figure20.332% above
Restaurants and bars per 10k8County figure18.013% below
Shops per 10k8County figure31.23% above
Arts, recreation and fitness per 10k8County figure4.510% above
Doctors' offices and clinics per 10k8County figure26.531% above
Child care centers per 10k8County figure2.44% above
Parks per 10k96.536% below
Playgrounds per 10k93.662% below
Grocery stores per 10k90.766% below
Restaurants, cafes and bars per 10k90.497% below
Libraries per 10k90.717% below
Named paths and bike trails90.0below (median 2.0)
Transit stops per sq mi97.4above (median 0.2)
Nearest National Park Service site1032.14% above
National Park Service sites within 60 miles10150% below
National Register listings11County figure101above (median 13)
06

Safety, weather and risk

January average low is 50°F, 99% above the median place.

No crime figure yet. Either the city police department did not report to the FBI for the latest year, or our monthly fetch has not reached Palm River-Clair Mel. Larger places are fetched first.

January average low13
50°F
99% above the median place
Tornado risk14
99.7
22% above the median place
Average temperature13
73°F
33% above the median place
All 11 weather and risk measures
MeasurePalm River-Clair MelAmong 6,645 placesVs median
July average high13County figure91°F5% above
January average low13County figure50°F99% above
Average temperature13County figure73°F33% above
Annual precipitation13County figure53.6 in22% above
Natural hazard risk14County figure98.87% above
Hurricane risk14County figure99.341% above
Tornado risk14County figure99.722% above
Wildfire risk14County figure95.756% above
Heat wave risk14County figure97.08% above
Median air quality index15County figure4914% above
Good air days15County figure53.2%22% below
08

Palm River-Clair Mel in 2030: where the trends point

If recent trends hold, the median rent will take about 26% of the median income in 2030, about the same as 25% now.

Citytistics projections to 2030: each figure's own trend, blended with the typical trend across the places we rate, eased toward long-run US growth and carried forward from the latest release. The range is where 80% of places landed when we tested the same method on past releases. On projected 2030 affordability, Palm River-Clair Mel does better than 31% of places. Its projected home value growth beats 97%.

MeasureLatest2030 projectionLikely rangeAvg. per year
Median rent$1,525/mo (2024)$2,000/mo$1,640 to $2,430/mo+4.6%
Median household income$71,787 (2024)$92,500$78,500 to $109,500+4.3%
Median home value$271,700 (2024)$415,000$301,000 to $572,000+7.3%

The median home would be worth 4.5 years of the median income in 2030, against 3.8 now.

A projection of recent trends, not a prediction of the economy or advice to buy or sell. How we project.

09

Places like Palm River-Clair Mel

The closest matches on income, rent, home value, education and age, and the places nearby.

PlaceRentIncome
Dallas, GA$1,492$75,545Compare
Garland, TX$1,641$76,320Compare
Fullerton, PA$1,428$69,317Compare
Smyrna, DE$1,534$67,048Compare
Smyrna, DEFullerton, PAGarland, TXDallas, GAPalm River-Clair Mel, FLPalm River-Clair MelDallasGarlandFullertonSmyrnaPalm River-Clair MelDallasGarlandFullertonSmyrna

Compare Palm River-Clair Mel with

Places built like Palm River-Clair Mel

Its statistical peers: the closest matches on size, age, education, homeownership, household size, housing age, origin and remote work, in the same part of the country. Cost and outcomes are left out of the match, so the table shows how Palm River-Clair Mel performs against places like it.

PlaceRent to incomeIncome growthPop. change
Palm River-Clair Mel, FL25.5%8.4%/yrn/a
Bear, DE23.2%4.9%/yrn/aCompare
Azalea Park, FL29.5%7.0%/yrn/aCompare
East Lake-Orient Park, FL33.0%6.7%/yrn/aCompare
Lockhart, FL28.6%5.4%/yrn/aCompare
Redan, GA28.8%5.7%/yrn/aCompare
Riviera Beach, FL30.0%7.6%/yr4.6%Compare

Common questions

Is Palm River-Clair Mel a good place to live?

It depends on what you need, so here is what the numbers say. Its Citytistics Index is 14 out of 100, better than 14% of the places we rate and 332nd of 474 in Florida. OpenStreetMap shows 0.7 grocery stores per 10,000 residents, fewer than in 91% of the 987 places of 25,000 to 50,000 people we track. The median rent takes 25.5% of the median household's income, a bigger share than in 82% of the 987 places of 25,000 to 50,000 people we track. On cost, space and class size it scores 36 out of 100 for families. See how it ranks with your own weights.

Is Palm River-Clair Mel expensive to live in?

The median rent takes 25.5% of the median household income, against 20.4% in the typical place we track. Housing is a heavier load here than usual. The median home is valued at $271,700.

What salary do you need to live in Palm River-Clair Mel?

To rent the median home without spending more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $61,000 a year. Work it out from your current city.

What places are similar to Palm River-Clair Mel?

On income, rent, home value, education and age, the closest matches are Dallas, GA, Garland, TX, Fullerton, PA and Smyrna, DE.

Sources and methods

The small numbers beside each measure point here. Every dataset is public; links go to the publisher.

  1. American Community Survey 5-year estimates · US Census Bureau · 2020 to 2024 estimatesTables B01002, B01003, B05002, B07003, B08013, B08301, B15003, B17001, B19013, B19301, B23025, B25002, B25003, B25010, B25035, B25064, B25070, B25077, B25088, B25103, B28002, S2701
  2. Regional Price Parities · US Bureau of Economic Analysis · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  3. Fair Market Rents · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2027
  4. Income Limits · US Department of Housing and Urban Development · Fiscal year 2026
  5. House Price Index · Federal Housing Finance Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14
  6. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · US Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2025 annual averages
  7. SOI Tax Stats, county-to-county migration · Internal Revenue Service · Tax years 2022 to 2023Counts tax returns and the people on them; flows under 20 returns are suppressed.
  8. County Business Patterns · US Census Bureau · 2023 data
  9. OpenStreetMap · © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL) · Map data as of 2026-11
  10. National Park Service sites · Wikidata (CC0), units operated by the National Park Service · Retrieved 2026-11
  11. National Register of Historic Places · National Park Service · Listings through 2026-05-22
  12. Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2024 release
  13. 1991-2020 climate normals · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information · Series updated 2026-11-05Averages for 1991 to 2020 computed from NOAA's county climate series (nClimDiv).nClimDiv county series
  14. National Risk Index · Federal Emergency Management Agency · Latest release, retrieved 2026-11-14NRI data and maps
  15. Air Quality System, annual AQI by county · US Environmental Protection Agency · 2025 dataAirData download files

Derived by Citytistics from the tables above: rent to income (B25064, B19013); property tax rate (B25103, B25077); home price to income (B25077, B19013).

What stands out compares Palm River-Clair Mel with places of a similar size, using only figures measured for Palm River-Clair Mel itself; county and metro figures never count. Survey figures are estimates with margins of error. Formulas and definitions: methodology. API: /api/v1/places/palm-river-clair-mel-florida

Citytistics. “Palm River-Clair Mel, Florida.” Data as of 2026-11-14. https://www.citytistics.com/city/palm-river-clair-mel-florida/

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.