RANK #573 / 1001 NAT · #12 / 41 FL · POP 632,780
1YR FORECAST: -1.4%
5YR OUTLOOK: +27%
Brevard County, Florida, known as the "Space Coast," is distinguished by its direct connection to space exploration, with the Kennedy Space Center being a prominent landmark. Located on Florida's Atlantic coast, roughly an hour east of Orlando, the county spans 72 miles of beaches and diverse communities from Titusville in the north to Palm Bay in the south. The community offers extensive outdoor recreation, including surfing at Cocoa Beach, kayaking in the Indian River Lagoon, and exploring wildlife refuges like Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Numerous county parks, such as Lori Wilson Park and Wickham Park, provide spaces for activities and events, reflecting the area's dedication to preserving natural spaces.
Life in Brevard County blends coastal living with a focus on innovation. The economy is driven by the aerospace and technology sectors, with major companies contributing to job growth. Beyond aerospace, healthcare, logistics, and advanced manufacturing also play significant roles. Brevard Public Schools are highly rated, and the county is home to higher education institutions like Eastern Florida State College and Florida Institute of Technology. Commute options include Space Coast Area Transit bus services and a vanpool program, with park-and-ride lots available for those commuting to regional employment centers like Kennedy Space Center or Orlando.
Brevard County is one of 76 U.S. counties in this market profile — stronger than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of -2.6% runs above the profile's typical -3.7%.
See all 76 Sun Belt Post-Surge Correction counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Prices declining
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 12.4x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Bluefin Energy Storage Project
Malta, Inc. (Google spin-off)
|
$468M | Planned |
|
Mallard Solar Project
Undisclosed
|
$75M | Planned |
|
FPL Ibis Solar Energy Center
Florida Power & Light (FPL)
|
$74M | Proposed |
|
FPL Palm Bay Solar Energy Center
Florida Power & Light (FPL)
|
$74M | Under Construction |
|
Lockheed Martin FBM Headquarters Relocation
Lockheed Martin
|
$40M | Completed |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
Brevard County scores 42/100 on the Boom Town Index, landing in the middle of the pack among 1001 U.S. counties (#573). Median household income is $78,476 and job growth is running at +0.7%. The data points to a county with mixed signals — some positive indicators alongside areas that lag faster-growing peers.
Brevard County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $339,600 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.23 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,556/month on average.
Brevard County's population is growing — up +2.0% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +0.7%). Home values shifted -2.6% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.1% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Brevard County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.