The Town FilesCocoa, Florida
City in Brevard County · population 19,041 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $246,100
- Household income
- $63,105
- Jan low / Jul high
- 50° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 0 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 44
- Median age
- 44.9
Cocoa is a city of 19,041 people in Brevard County, Florida. The median home is worth $246,100, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 71% of Florida towns, more seaside character than 70% of Florida towns, better transit than 70% of Florida towns.
How Cocoa ranks
Percentile among Florida towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Florida towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Cocoa is worth $246,100, below the typical Florida town ($331,600). Homes cost about 3.9 times the median household income of $63,105, which is more affordable than 70% of Florida towns. Median rent is $1,274 a month. 63.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Cocoa | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $246,100 | $331,600 |
| Median rent | $1,274 | $1,569 |
| Median household income | $63,105 | $71,140 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.9× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 63.5% | 73.5% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1985 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.7% | — |
Who lives in Cocoa
| People | Cocoa | Typical Florida town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.9 | 42.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.8% | 20.2% |
| Under 18 | 17.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27.4% | 28.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.1% | 11.3% |
| Veterans | 12.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 11.4% | — |
| Work from home | 9.1% | 13.5% |
| Average commute | 25.6 min | 27.5 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.7% | 92.4% |
Weather in Cocoa
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 50.3°F. About 48.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 0.0 inches of snow (typical Florida town: 0.0 in). Expect about 42 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 2 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
44 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cocoa since 1950, compared with 35 for the typical Florida town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F4, struck on April 4, 1966 about 2.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 9, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 42 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on April 29, 2023.
Severe weather in Brevard County since 1996
Brevard County has been included in 45 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, freezing, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| October 11, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4834: Hurricane Milton |
| October 7, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3622: Hurricane Milton |
| August 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4806: Hurricane Debby |
| August 3, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3605: Tropical Storm Debby |
| August 31, 2023 | Hurricane | DR-4734: Hurricane Idalia |
Jobs and pay in Brevard County
Brevard County had 242,124 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $68,051 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Cocoa itself the ACS puts it at 5.6%.
Public schools in Cocoa
12 public schools with 7,412 students, about 16.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| SPACE COAST JUNIOR/SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 1,488 | 19.6 |
| COCOA HIGH SCHOOL | 7-12 | 1,468 | 17.5 |
| ENDEAVOUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 714 | 13.7 |
| ATLANTIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 635 | 16.3 |
| ENTERPRISE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 610 | 14.9 |
| SATURN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 587 | 12.5 |
| FAIRGLEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 517 | 14.0 |
| CAMBRIDGE ELEMENTARY MAGNET SCHOOL | PK-6 | 505 | 14.4 |
| CHALLENGER 7 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | PK-6 | 480 | 15.0 |
| EMMA JEWEL CHARTER ACADEMY (charter) | K-8 | 364 | 22.8 |
| BREVARD COUNTY JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER | 6-12 | 35 | 11.7 |
| BREVARD COUNTY JAIL COMPLEX | 5-12 | 9 | 9.0 |
Towns near Cocoa
- Cocoa West, FL1.3 mi · 5,939 people · home $158,700
- Rockledge, FL4.1 mi · 27,678 people · home $338,100
- Sharpes, FL4.6 mi · 3,115 people · home $295,800
- North Merritt Island, FL6.6 mi · 8,566 people · home $525,400
- Merritt Island, FL7.1 mi · 34,518 people · home $402,900
- Port St. John, FL7.4 mi · 23,474 people · home $281,300
- Viera East, FL8.4 mi · 11,687 people · home $396,700
- Cocoa Beach, FL8.9 mi · 11,354 people · home $503,200
Cocoa questions
Is Cocoa, Florida a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Cocoa scores better for retirees than 20% of Florida towns and quieter than 41%. 21.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.9).
How much does a house cost in Cocoa?
The median owner-occupied home in Cocoa is valued at $246,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $63,105, so homes cost about 3.9 times income. Median rent is $1,274 a month.
What is the weather like in Cocoa?
July highs average 88.7°F and January lows 50.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.6 inches of precipitation a year and 0.0 inches of snow.
Does Cocoa get tornadoes?
44 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Cocoa since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F4 on April 4, 1966. The typical Florida town has had 35.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)