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Living in Melbourne, FL

Small city in Florida

Melbourne is a small city in Florida, home to about 86,000 people, with 524,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, there is some transit, though many people drive. Life moves at a relaxed pace, and homes are a mix of apartments and houses.

Is Melbourne a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Low taxes: no state income tax, 0.7% property tax
  • Dog-friendly: 15 dog parks within 9 mi
  • Strong healthcare: 3 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
  • Easy flying: MCO is 45 mi away

👎 Cons

  • Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby
  • Fewer graduates: 33% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
  • Smaller job market: about 524,000 people live within 31 mi
  • Fewer family amenities than most places

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how Melbourne ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
86,000
524,000 within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
74°F / 90°F
Average daily highs
3-bedroom home
$341k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$2,330/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
100
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
No income tax
State income tax per resident · 0.7% property tax
Safety
No data
Not in FBI 2019 city table
Natural disasters
15 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly hurricanes, flooding
Top-rated hospitals
3
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
33%
1 research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
MCO
45 mi away

Living in Melbourne: common questions

What is the cost of living in Melbourne?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $341k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $2,330 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are close to the US average (index 100, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in Melbourne?

Florida has no state income tax, and homeowners here pay about 0.7% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is Melbourne safe?

Melbourne isn't in the FBI's 2019 city crime table, so Best Life Fit Me counts its safety as average.

What is the weather like in Melbourne?

Melbourne is warm all year: winter days average around 74°F and summer days around 90°F.

Does Melbourne get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is moderate, mainly from hurricanes and flooding: 15 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.45 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to Melbourne?

The nearest major airport is MCO, about 45 mi away.

How Melbourne scores

Each bar compares Melbourne with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Small city Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Suburban Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Some transit Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Nature on the doorstep Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Warm all year Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Affordable Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Relaxed Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Private AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Apartments & houses ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Good
💸Low taxes Excellent
💼Job market Below average
🏥Healthcare Excellent
🎓Education Below average
🧸Kids & family Below average
🐕Dog-friendly Excellent
⛰️Outdoors Average
🎭Culture Poor
🛡️Safety No crime data (counted as average)
🌪️Few natural disasters Average
☀️Sunny Good
🌤️Mild summers Average
✈️Airport Excellent

Places like Melbourne

These places have the most similar overall profile across all 23 aspects.

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Is Melbourne right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

Take the free quiz →

Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.