What it's like to live in Rockledge
Rockledge is a small city in Florida with unemployment below the national average, crime rates well below the national average, air quality that stays clean most of the year, and a population that has grown fast since 2020. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Rockledge deals with rent well above the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, hot summers, and above-average rainfall.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Low crime rates
- Clean air
- Fast-growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High rent burden for renters
- Hot summers
- Above-average rainfall
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
- Car-dependent — few commuters use transit
How Rockledge compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Rockledge
Based on Rockledge's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,640
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $72,800 a year
- 54% of Rockledge renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$67,620
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $33,810
- Homes cost 4.0× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 29% above US
$1,820/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,820 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $338,100. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $338,100 · 54% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 16% below US
3.6% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.6%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 47% below US
210 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1199/100k · Rockledge Police Department · 2020 data
Getting around▼ 11% below US
23 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 23.1 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 9 in 10 workers drive to work; 12% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 90°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 52°F. It's a wet climate overall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 11% below US
32% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 32% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary and 5 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 17:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Canaveral National Seashore (32 miles away).
Bottom line
Rockledge's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin. A year of median rent ($1,820/mo) equals 26% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Rockledge
All Florida guides →Moving to Merritt Island →
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Rent $1,441/mo · Income $94,012
Compare with Rockledge →Moving to Viera East →
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Rent $1,681/mo · Income $92,467
Compare with Rockledge →Moving to Viera West →
5 mi away · pop. 17,984
Rent $2,182/mo · Income $109,170
Compare with Rockledge →Not sure Rockledge is the one?
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