Right between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Lagoon, the City of Cocoa offers its 20,000 residents access to Brevard County's outdoor amenities in a more relaxed environment than its sister city Cocoa Beach. "I would say it's not beachy, but it's riverfront," says Lisa Marie of Ryan's Pizza, a local favorite since the 1970s. "You have the Indian River right here, and you're only four miles from Cocoa Beach. The east side is more suburban, and on the west side, people might have land and some horses. Downtown Cocoa Village is our tourist area, but we get a lot of locals coming in. People love this place." This love manifests in year-round events in the downtown district, bringing locals and tourists together in Cocoa.
Cocoa West keeps a small town feel while being close to the city and beaches.
Many boaters go to the Indian River outside of Cocoa.
Cocoa Village is at the heart of Downtown Cocoa.
Ron Jon Surf Shop is a must for tourists visiting Cocoa.
Cocoa Riverfront Park has boat launch access.
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Cocoa's support for small businesses
Aerospace manufacturing is one of Brevard County's main industries, employing over 12,000 county-wide. Major employers include Collins Aerospace, Northrup Grumman, L3Harris Technologies and the John F. Kennedy Space Center. Other major industries are educational services, healthcare, tourism and retail. With its Upstart Program, the City of Cocoa helps encourage small businesses to grow. The program offers grants to minority- and women-owned businesses.
The Northrop Grumman Corporation is located at 5335 N Courtenay Pkwy near Cocoa.
Welcome to discover the technological marvels of the Kennedy Space Center in Titusville.
A family explores astronaut history at Kennedy Space Center near Titusville.
Orlando Health Rockledge Hospital is located at 110 Longwood Ave near Cocoa.
The Cocoa Village prides itself on locally owned businesses.
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Cocoa Beach, Indian River and local parks
While it's 4 miles east of town and a city in its own right, Cocoa Beach is a huge attraction for tourists and residents. This 6-mile stretch of golden sand connects to the rest of the Space Coast beaches, offering bright blue waters and challenging surf. Close to home, the Indian River is popular with boaters, kayakers and water skiers. Several parks are available to residents, including Cocoa Riverfront, Taylor and Lee Wenner Parks. Riverfront Park's amphitheater is often used for outdoor concerts, and its lawn hosts about 75 beermakers at the annual Cocoa Village Brewer's Bash.
Happy welcome signage to Cocoa Beach
Residents enoy the beach year-round while living in Cocoa Beach.
The Cocoa Beach Pier offers stunning ocean views, dining and entertainment over the Atlantic.
Merritt Island is a great place for families.
The Hubert Humphrey Bridge is a well known sight over the Indian River in Cocoa.
Cocoa Riverfront Park has an amphitheater for events.
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Cocoa offers midcentury houses and riverfront condos
The median sale price in Cocoa is $182,700, 35% lower than the national median sale price of $281,900, according to Niche. Most homes were built in the mid-20th century, but there are some newer builds and multi-family communities. In the center of town, prices may range between $225,000 and $500,000, and going north on the Indian River, houses and condos close to the riverfront may cost between $325,000 and $900,000.
Cocoa West embraces the tropical lifestyle with newer homes featuring large palm trees.
Cocoa has seen a trend in mid-century homes being refurbished.
You will find large waterfront homes along the Indian River in Cocoa West.
New multi-family developments are being built in Cocoa.
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B-plus rating for Brevard Public Schools
Serving 73,000 students across its 111 campuses, Brevard County Public Schools is one of the 15 biggest districts in Florida. It has a B-plus grade on Niche. Most elementary schools instruct kindergarten through 6th grade, and high schools are 7th through 12th. While younger kids have several magnet and charter options, they'll likely attend Cocoa Beach High for later grades, as it's the only public high school in the city. Its football program won back-to-back state championships in 2022 and 2023, and a Cocoa Tiger has played in every Super Bowl since 2020.
Cocoa Beach Jr/Sr High School proudly rallies behind the Minutemen mascot with beach pride.
Cocoa Beach Jr/Sr High School guides students to success in their education and personal growth.
Ronald McNair Magnet Middle School is located on Challenger Drive in Rockledge, Florida.
Welcome to the main entrance of Ronald Mcnair Magnet Middle School.
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Local businesses and events in Cocoa Village
The city’s downtown area, Cocoa Village, offers plenty of small-town shopping and dining. This walkable district's historic architecture houses 20-plus restaurants and a handful of boutiques. Residents might also attend one of the downtown events: golf carts haunt the parade during Halloween in the Village, and classic cars pull up for the Cocoa Village Concourse. For more retail, nearby Viera offers big box stores and The Avenue Viera shopping mall. To learn about the Space Coast, the Kennedy Space Center and the Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum are within 15 miles.
The Cocoa Village is nostalgic and quaint filled with small businesses.
At the heart of Cocoa is the Cocoa Village, a mecca of mom and pop type retail.
Dog N Bone British Pub is located in the middle of Cocoa Village.
Titusville is located across the Indian River from NASA's Kennedy Space Center.
Boeing displays its space suit at Kennedy Space Center and has facilities in Titusville.
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Getting around Cocoa
Cocoa Boulevard and State Road 501 run north and south across town; State Road 520 can carry drivers across the eastern causeway to Meritt Island and Cocoa Beach, 6 miles away. Orlando Health Rockledge Hospital is the closest medical center. Port Canaveral is 12 miles from Cocoa, which is convenient for residents like Realtor Monica McKune with Keller Williams Brevard, who's been in real estate for 22 years. "We're a cruise family," McKune says. "With the port being so close, we can go on cruises a few times a year without worrying about flights." Melbourne Orlando International Airport is 20 miles from Cocoa, and Orlando International Airport is 37 miles away.
Weather and crime in Cocoa
Cocoa has hot, humid summers and mild, dry winters, with an average high of 85 degrees Fahrenheit. As with all of Florida, Cocoa is often in the path of hurricanes. "We board up the windows like everybody else," says Lisa Marie. "Our docks get a little banged up sometimes, but that's normal for this area. Hurricanes are a part of life here."
Crime data is not widely accessible for the City of Cocoa, but data is available for Brevard County. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement's most recent annual report, published in 2021, notes that overall crime in Brevard County decreased by 13% from 2020 to 2021.
Written By
Micaela Green
Photography Contributed By
Jay Welker
Video By
Nick Seitz
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Jon Mason,
an experienced agent in this area.
On average, homes in Cocoa, FL sell after 50 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Cocoa, FL over the last 12 months is $315,000, up 5% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Welcome home to this beautifully designed 2,144 under air split floor plan near Indian River and filled with thoughtful upgrades throughout. Inside, you'll find new Hunter ceiling fans in every room, wood laminate floors, honeycomb blackout blinds, a spacious 45x11 bonus room with electric shades, and a primary suite with a jetted tub. The dining room features a cozy wood-burning fireplace, while
Rare Opportunity to Live on the Largest Lake in Port St. John! Enjoy stunning lakefront views from the kitchen, bonus room, and two bedrooms, including the primary suite. This spacious concrete block home offers nearly 2,600 sq ft of living space sitting on .40 acre corner lot at the end of street. No HOA - Bring your Boats & RVs! The split floor plan provides privacy, the primary suite is
Step into this immaculate, move-in ready nearly new home built in 2020, offering a spacious and well-designed layout perfect for modern living. This home features an open-concept floor plan consisting of 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 car garage, stylish kitchen with modern finishes, under-cabinet lighting, breakfast bar, and eat-in dining space, separate formal dining room, a spacious living room,
Super affordable 1bed 1bath home with huge enclosed Florida room and a convenient utility shed for extra storage and laundry facilities. Located in Forest Lakes of Cocoa, a gated active 55 + neighborhood! Low HOA and YOU OWN THE LAND! Enjoy a heated pool, fishing pier, boat launch, clubhouse, playground, shuffleboard, Located close to 95, Beachline, beaches, OIA, shopping, dining, hospitals
Waterfront living with rocket launch views! This updated 2-bed, 2-bath condo at The Boardwalk offers peaceful Indian River views and a front-row seat to sunrises, dolphins, and launches. Inside, enjoy fresh paint, new flooring, and brand-new kitchen countertops with a water-filtration sink system. The open layout includes a breakfast bar and split-bedroom plan for privacy. The primary suite
AFFORDABLE 4 BEDROOM HOME! Welcome to this beautiful home so near the Indian River and Cocoa Beach! Lush tropical plants including Mango and Avocado trees, make for a delightful garden in the over-sized fenced yard. This split-plan home features 4 spacious bedrooms, two baths, a large screened in porch and an over-sized 2-car garage. Exterior is freshly painted; Roof and Water Heater are new in
Spacious 4 bedroom, 2 bath, 1332 living sq. ft., 1 story home. Living room, dining room, kitchen with breakfast bar, primary bedroom with walk-in closet, primary bath with walk-in shower. Laundry/utility room. Large back yard with shed. 45 minutes to Orlando! Renters Insurance Required. No pets.
Be the first to live in this stunning new build featuring:•3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms•1-car garage•Spacious kitchen with Corian countertops and 48-inch cabinets•Matching Corian in the bathrooms, Never lived in before - everything is brand new!Located in the rapidly growing Cocoa area, this home is available now.Schedule a showing and secure this beautiful property!
GORGEOUSLY REDONE HOME SITUATED ON A LARGE CORNER LOT. FENCED IN BACKYARD FOR PRIVACY WITH CIRCULAR DRIVEWAY. HOME HAS SO MANY NEW FEATURES THROUGHOUT, UPSCALE WOOD PLANK TILE FLOORS, NEW LIGHT FIXTURES, FANS, WINDOW TREATMENTS. FRESHLY PAINTED INSIDE/OUTSIDE AND MUCH MORE. NEW GOURMET KITCHEN AND BRAND NEW BATHROOMS. THIS HOME IS WAITING FOR ITS NEW TENANT TO CALL HOME!
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