Bordered by four miles of the beautiful Indian River to the east, Cocoa sits in the heart of Brevard County with easy access to the beaches, Port Canaveral and Kennedy Space Center. First settled in the 1860s, and supposedly named after a box of Baker's Cocoa delivered to Willard's General Store, the City of Cocoa was incorporated in 1895.

Unlike many Florida communities with a high concentration of seniors, Cocoa's largest age group is in the 20 - 44 range. The population of more than 16,000 can enjoy recreational activities such as boating, parasailing, sail boarding, water-skiing, sailing and horseback riding. Fresh water fishing on the nearby St. Johns River and salt water fishing in the Indian River and Atlantic Ocean are also popular pastimes.

One of the most visited Cocoa attractions is Cocoa Village, a picturesque shopping area adjacent to the river featuring quaint stores and restaurants, cobblestone sidewalks, period street lamps and landscaping. A boardwalk and regional park have also been constructed along the historic waterfront area. Other Cocoa places of interest include Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science, Brevard Community College main campus and Planetarium and Cocoa Expo Stadium.

DEMOGRAPHICS
Cocoa's demographic group has a relatively young working population and has more pre-schoolers than the national average. Cocoa has a broad range of housing, from apartments to estates on one-acre plus lots, in both newer and established neighborhoods, For entertainment, they enjoy golf, fishing, hunting, and other outdoor activities as well as participating in youth sports and family outings.

Population in July 2008: 16,478. Population change since 2000: +0.4%
Males: 7,828 (47.5%)
Females: 8,650 (52.5%)

Median resident age: 36.4 years
Florida median age: 38.7 years

Estimated median household income in 2008: $33,346 (it was $27,062 in 2000)
Cocoa: $33,346
Florida: $47,778

Estimated per capita income in 2008: $19,422

Estimated median house or condo value in 2008: $141,662 (it was $64,000 in 2000)
Cocoa: $141,662
Florida: $218,700

Mean prices in 2008: All housing units: $162,040; Detached houses: $164,476; Townhouses or other attached units: $109,270; In 3-to-4-unit structures: $146,621; In 5-or-more-unit structures: $281,536; Mobile homes: $18,138; Occupied boats, RVs, vans, etc.: $5,000

RACES IN COCOA:
White Non-Hispanic (60.0%)
Black (32.3%)
Hispanic (4.9%)
Two or more races (1.9%)
Other race (1.6%)
American Indian (1.2%)

Dec. 2009 cost of living index in Cocoa: 84.8 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)

Houses: 8,000 (6,948 occupied: 3,986 owner occupied, 2,962 renter occupied)

% of renters in Cocoa: 43%
State: 30%

Housing density: 1073 houses/condos per square mile

Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses and condos in 2008 in this state: $303,747.

Median contract rent in 2008: $603 (lower quartile is $378, upper quartile is $729)

Median rent asked for vacant for-rent units in 2008: $606

Median gross rent in Cocoa, FL in 2008: $707

Housing units in Cocoa with a mortgage: 2,247 (412 second mortgage, 153 home equity loan, 0 both second mortgage and home equity loan)

Houses without a mortgage: 1,024

Estimated median house or condo value in 2008: $141,662 (it was $64,000 in 2000)
Cocoa: $141,662
Florida: $218,700

Lower value quartile - upper value quartile: $91,637 - $159,396

Mean price in 2008:
Detached houses: $164,476
Here: $164,476
State: $320,221

Townhouses or other attached units: $109,270
Here: $109,270
State: $238,220

In 3-to-4-unit structures: $146,621
Here: $146,621
State: $213,359

In 5-or-more-unit structures: $281,536
Here: $281,536
State: $260,965

Mobile homes: $18,138
Here: $18,138
State: $43,568

Occupied boats, RVs, vans, etc.: $5,000
Here: $5,000
State: $47,032

Household type by relationship
Households: 16,406
In family households: 13,110 (2,481 male householders, 1,676 female householders)

2,603 spouses, 4,813 children (4,552 natural, 132 adopted, 129 stepchildren), 533 grandchildren, 86 brothers or sisters, 183 parents, 223 other relatives, 512 non-relatives

In nonfamily households: 3,296 (1,271 male householders (1,029 living alone)), 1,403 female householders (1,160 living alone)), 622 nonrelatives

In group quarters: 94 (0 institutionalized population)

Size of family households: 1,777 2-persons, 1,034 3-persons, 794 4-persons, 358 5-persons, 130 6-persons, 64 7-or-more-persons.

Size of nonfamily households: 2,189 1-person, 408 2-persons, 59 3-persons, 9 4-persons, 4 5-persons, 5 7-or-more-persons.

1,744 married couples with children.

1,920 single-parent households (276 men, 1,644 women).

91.2% of residents of Cocoa speak English at home.

5.1% of residents speak Spanish at home (46% speak English very well, 25% speak English well, 25% speak English not well, 4% don't speak English at all).

2.3% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (70% speak English very well, 14% speak English well, 16% speak English not well).

0.9% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (59% speak English very well, 37% speak English well, 4% speak English not well).

0.5% of residents speak other language at home (38% speak English very well, 31% speak English well, 10% speak English not well, 21% don't speak English at all).

Foreign born population: 951 (5.8%)
(41.0% of them are naturalized citizens)

Median number of rooms in houses and condos:
Here: 5.7
State: 5.6

Median number of rooms in apartments:
Here: 3.7
State: 3.8

HIGH SCHOOLS - PUBLIC
Cocoa High School
2000 Tiger Tr., Cocoa
(321) 632-5300
Grades: 9-12

MIDDLE SCHOOLS - PUBLIC
Clearlake Middle School
1225 Clearlake Rd., Cocoa
(321) 633-3660
Grades: 7-8

Ronald McNair Middle School
1 Challenger Dr., Cocoa
(321) 633-3630
Grades: 7-8

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS - PUBLIC
Cambridge Elementary
2000 Cambridge Drive, Cocoa
(321) 633-3550
Grades: K-12

Endeavor Elementary
905 Pineda St., Cocoa
(321) 633-3545
Grades: K-12

Fairglen Elementary
201 Indian Trail, Cocoa
(321) 631-1993
Grades: K-12

Saturn Elementary
880 Range Road, Cocoa
(321) 633-3535
Grades: K-12

Ralph Williams Elementary
1700 Clubhouse Drive, Viera
(321) 617-7700
Grades: K-6