Despite Melbourne's coastal locale, high-tech employment draws more new residents than the beaches a few miles away. The city of 87,000 residents hosts the headquarters of L3Harris Technologies Inc., a government contractor that employs 7,000 people locally, and a facility operated by Northrop Grumman Corp., one of the world’s biggest defense companies. Jobs related to the Pentagon drive much of Melbourne's growth, but it's also part of the Space Coast — the name given to aerospace-centric Brevard County — and Kennedy Space Center is 40 miles away.
The large tech employers have attracted small and medium-sized companies hoping to snag some of the billions of government contract dollars that flow through the county each year. That, combined with sunny weather and home prices that are lower than in bigger metros, puts it high on the list for people moving to Florida. “You’re seeing residential growth across the region, and it’s being fed by the growth in aerospace and manufacturing,” says Michael Ayers, president and CEO of the Melbourne Regional Chamber, which represents nearly 1,000 local businesses and organizations.
The result: the city has added 10,000 residents since 2010, and the influx continues. In 2023, U-Haul reported more of its moving trucks were bound for Melbourne and the neighboring city of Palm Bay than any other U.S. metro. These new arrivals are typically highly educated, well-paid professionals from larger cities such as New York and Washington, D.C. This has sparked changes in Melbourne. Once a waterside agricultural community, the 145-year-old city is modernizing. Large residential developments have sprouted, and its historical downtown is adding luxury apartments and rooftop bars.
Life in Melbourne isn’t all about work. The city is situated along the Indian River and only a bridge’s length away from the beach. Locals can explore the area’s natural features just about any time of the year thanks to the subtropical climate. Melbourne's location in the central part of Florida makes it possible to day trip to Orlando, 70 miles to the west, or the dozen coastal communities within a 60-mile drive.
The recreation scene includes water to the east and conservation land to the west. Boat ramps, marinas and yacht clubs spread along the riverfront, providing places for boaters to store their vessels until they decide to sail along the river. Paddle boarders, kayakers and canoers can also launch into the river or explore the channels that split off the Indian River and meander inland. Beach days are a short drive away; 3 miles east are public beaches in the town of Indialantic. North of the city proper is the Brevard Zoo. It's is the only one in the nation where visitors can kayak through exhibits, passing giraffes, zebras and rhinos as they paddle along a shady canal.
In the city, the government oversees 230 acres of green spaces. Many are small parks dotting the coast of the Indian River, with playgrounds and picnic pavilions presenting spots to enjoy the warm local weather; the average temperature reaches the 70s or higher every month of the year. One of the city’s most elaborate green spaces is Wickham Park. The 400-acre facility includes a 5-mile paved trail, an 18-hole disc golf course and an archery range. When residents aren’t outdoors, they may be checking out a performance at Melbourne Civic Theatre or taking an art class at the Melbourne Public Library.
West of the city limits, the landscape transforms from subdivisions and shopping centers to forests and shrublands. Fishing and hiking are common activities around the area’s rivers and lakes. Less than 10 miles from downtown Melbourne, Three Forks Conservation Area spans 50,000 acres, full of waterways and trails. Boaters and hikers are likely to spot the wildlife active in the region year-round, including river otters, egrets and, of course, alligators. The weather is warm enough to explore parks, trails and waterways nearly all year long; Melbourne summers are long, hot and humid, and even in the winter temperatures rarely fall below 55 degrees. However, brief rain showers pop up frequently, particularly in the summer.
