Today, Melbourne, Florida is a busy city fueled by large aerospace contractors supporting NASA as well as supporting military and government contracts for National Defense. With Melbourne having a major role in the aerospace industry, as well as defense contractors such as L3Harris, Raytheon and Northrop Grumman, the area has earned the nickname the “Space Coast.” All of these contractors have been operating and growing into what they are today in Melbourne dating back 40+ years and are continuing to grow today, bringing more and more jobs to the area.
Growth Of Melbourne, FL
L3Harris and Northrop Grumman have really jumpstarted their growth over the last 10-15 years with acquisitions, mergers, and expansions in the area. In addition to those large companies, SpaceX and Blue Origin have jumped on the scene with their Space Coast operations continuing to grow. Blue Origin has built over 1.5 million square feet of facilities in Merritt Island, just south of Kennedy Space Center, while SpaceX’s new “Gigabay” facility is also currently under construction and expected to be completed by the end of 2026 as part of bringing Starship manufacturing and operations to Florida.
Just these two companies alone have brought roughly 6,000-7,000 jobs to the Space Coast over the past 10-20 years and are still growing. Not to mention other industry juggernauts like Lockheed Martin and Boeing having a footprint in the area as well. With all of these high level jobs that are needing to be filled it naturally brings floods of people to Melbourne and everything that comes with that has followed.
Melbourne in the Beginning
Melbourne, Florida was first incorporated in 1888 as a town and later officially became a city in 1913. This area was originally called “Crane Creek” which is the name of the creek that flows into the Indian River Lagoon, near what is now Downtown Melbourne. The area was settled following the civil war and the growth centralized around the creek. The name Melbourne came later when the area established its first post office. The area was eventually named after their first postmaster who had spent most of his life in Melbourne, Australia. Today, you will still see the name Crane Creek on street signs and neighborhoods throughout the area.
Why Families Love Melbourne, FL
Melbourne, Florida and Brevard County have so much to offer families moving to the area. In addition to the beautiful sunshine, there are countless things to do, A+ rated public schools, and beautiful new construction houses. Families moving here can settle into a custom-built home while also enjoying Orlando, Florida has to offer just a short drive away.
Melbourne separates into a few distinct areas: the Viera and Suntree area, which is where a lot of the new construction homes and growth is happening, as well as new shopping and restaurants. For more about Viera, Florida check out this article we wrote. But there’s also Beachside, Downtown Melbourne, as well as West Melbourne, with entertainment and local events like the Cocoa Beach Air Show and Thunder on Cocoa Beach.
Things to do with Kids
The obvious things to do with kids start at beaches, swimming parks, as well as local parks like Wickham Park. There are also more places to visit, like the Brevard Zoo, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, trampoline parks to beat the summer heat, as well as the famous Dinosaur Store & Museum. Not to mention, Melbourne, Florida is just a short drive away from all Orlando has to offer without the busyness of living there.
Senior Living
Melbourne, Florida has plenty of senior living options as well. Whether you’re looking for a 55+ active living community in the Viera area, like Del Webb at Viera or Heritage Isle, or prefer a beachfront condo, there’s plenty to choose from. These communities offer amenities like tennis courts, pickleball courts, resort-style pools, as well as clubhouses with activities and events to keep you engaged with your community. Each of these Viera, Florida neighborhoods supports about 2,000-3,000 residents, which makes for a very active community and lifestyle.
Palm Bay Spillover on growth
With all of the growth Melbourne has, it is naturally starting to spillover into Palm Bay, Florida, as well. Not only is there new construction popping up everywhere, as well as luxury apartments, but also major projects coming down the pipeline that were just recently approved, like the Ashton Park community. You can get more info on this huge project here. This is still in the grassroots stages and will be in addition to all of the new construction down the St. John Heritage Parkway, as well as the Space Coast Town Center project. There’s no doubt that the growth is not only just Melbourne, Florida but coming to all of Brevard County as well. If you are moving to Palm Bay, Florida be sure to check out our article on this, “Moving to Palm Bay? Here’s How to Find Reliable Movers.”
Different Types of Movers Around Melbourne
With Melbourne being so large, moves can be quite different from one to the next. Between full-service luxury home moves, a young professional moving from one apartment to another, or a retiree in a beach condo, each move has different factors involved, as well as different client needs. We have mastered handling all of these different types of moves in our decade of operating in Brevard County, Florida. For a full breakdown of what Tropic Moving can do, as well as community partners we work with, check out our website. Below is a quick breakdown of each type of move and how we account for the different factors involved to make for a successful, easy move.
Young Professionals
Many young professionals are flocking to the new luxury apartments, as well as the construction options in the area. We have seen many live the apartment lifestyle immediately upon coming to Melbourne to learn the area and then move 1-2 years after they have had a chance to learn the area and where they want to settle long term. New luxury apartments are popping up throughout Brevard County, like the Highline Apartments in Downtown Melbourne, or The Luna, to experience all that Viera has to offer. These options offer downtown life, shopping, and restaurants within a short walking distance. It helps keep that downtown lifestyle with a Space Coast relaxed vibe to it.
These moves usually require long carries to the elevator, strict parking requirements, service elevators and making sure we schedule moves within the proper time frame for the building. We have plenty of carts, dollies, and hand trucks to make sure everything rolls smoothly, as well as focus on thorough item protection with the long carry of getting your belongings to and from the moving truck. We also have the option of a smaller moving truck if tight parking is an issue.
Retirees
Many retirees are looking for the calmer vibe of a 55+ community or living the condo life to lessen the responsibilities versus owning a home. 55+ communities typically have a gated entrance that requires crews to provide basic identification to enter and are basically just moving into a single-family home. Movers need to be aware if these neighborhoods have any HOA restrictions, especially having to do with truck size, moving times, and parking restrictions. Some communities don’t allow large tractor-trailers from out of town, requiring a shuttle to load/ unload them. A shuttle, in moving terms, is a smaller truck that is used to move items to and from the larger truck, in most cases the tractor-trailer. This can add a significant amount of time and cost onto the move if not ready for it. It’s important to check with community guidelines when having movers come in to ensure nothing like that pops up unexpectedly.
The other popular option is living in a condo. Condos bring up factors for movers, like where the truck can park, but also bring in navigating elevators, hallways and even low ceilings in some of the older buildings to get to the unit. Most Brevard County condos don’t have dedicated service elevators and typically lock one of a few out for moving or share one with residents in the building. This is where a properly sized moving crew will help keep an efficient speed and get in/out to ensure everyone can get back to normal operating procedure after the move to keep all of your neighbors happy though the move as well.
Assisted Living Options
In addition to 55+ neighborhoods, there are also a plethora of options for older residents preparing to transition into assisted living. Some of the premier options in Melbourne, Florida are Victoria Landing, Discovery Village, The Brennity, and Zon Beachside. These are for folks looking to downsize and needing some help with the day-to-day. There is certainly no shortage of options in Melbourne when it comes to assisted living. As far as moving, these facilities are similar to condos but do require experienced moving crews, as they require some more patience and “touch” than most moves.
Many folks moving into ALFs are not moving a whole lot, but it’s the little things that matter. Having patience with multiple parties involved, making tight arrival windows to not interrupt events or even serving lunch, can quickly become an issue within the building. Residents don’t like having their schedules interrupted, and new residents don’t want to be seen as causing a stir moving in. This is why Tropic Moving is one of the preferred movers in these facilities and partnered with One Senior Place, a senior resource in Viera, Florida, as their preferred moving partner.
Budget-Conscious Moves
With the rising costs of just about everything, we understand that budget is on everyone’s mind when hiring movers. Budget-conscious moving doesn’t mean picking the cheapest rate you can find, though. Budget moving is about planning ahead, packing properly, decluttering effectively, and calling a moving company far ahead of time to be sure you are on the same page for your move, focusing on efficiency more so than cutting corners. Understanding minimums the movers may have, as well as what may be an additional charge, like taking apart beds or boxing TVs or other fragile items is important.
While it’s tempting to go with the lowest rate, residents should also consider reliability, professionalism, and how their belongings will be packed and protected. Unfortunately, the “bait and switch” is also all too common in moving. This is when a company gives a quote to “bait” and gets the job booked, then on move day adds additional charges and fees to “switch” what the actual charges will be. Reputable companies will be able to provide more accurate estimates, as well as require a signature on the moving estimate, which holds both parties accountable to the price agreed upon. This usually comes from not going with a reputable local company for a “too good to be true” cheap price. Our goal at Tropic Moving is to work with our clients to create an efficient and practical plan for the move at a fair price while delivering professionalism and reliability to make life easy for you and your family during your move.
Challenges Unique to Moving in Melbourne, FL
Some huge factors when it comes to moving in Melbourne, FL, are the weather: summer heat and humidity, afternoon storms, and hurricane season. These create conditions that can make for a long day when not prepared for. At Tropic Moving, we get started early and have the proper processes and equipment to handle these challenges. With rain, our crews are trained to use shrink wrap to ensure the items are covered and protected from water. Our crews also know how to organize the move to handle “inside” work while rain comes through. This means handling items like disassembly/reassembly of furniture, wrapping and unwrapping furniture, as well as placement and set up, can all be done inside while it’s raining outside. This way, our crews can stay busy while it’s raining, and in Florida, the rain usually moves through, allowing us to load/unload once the rain clears up to keep the workday moving along. We also have a large fleet of trucks and can accommodate an overnight hold if the weather is just not cooperating and there’s just too much rain to work around.
Traffic bottlenecks around events like weekend airshows, boat races, or highly publicized launches from the Kennedy Space Center are another factor. Getting caught in one of these can cost you half a day sometimes, especially with the traffic from the new launches, such as the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket and the NASA Artemis program that is currently in progress. The last launch from NASA’s Artemis II drew an estimated crowd of more than 400,000 people to the Space Coast.
What Moving Costs Typically Look Like in Melbourne, FL
Typical price ranges on local moves
1 Bedroom Apartment: $477 – $795
2 Bedroom Home/Apartment: $795 – $1,115
3 Bedroom Home: $1,200 – $2,500+
Our base two-man rate, at the time of this post, is $159 per hour, and the three-man rate is $219 per hour. Major factors that can influence pricing are if you need packing help and how much, if the move can be completed in one day, how much you can have prepped for the move versus what you need from the crew, like taking apart beds, packing fragile items like TVs and lamps, etc.
Other factors that can have a major influence on price are things like stairs, elevators, and long carries at apartment and condo buildings.
A “standard” 2-bedroom apartment move in Melbourne, Florida, with a 2-man crew and moving truck, typically takes about 4–6 hours to complete, putting most of those moves in the $795–$1,115 range. If that move needs full packing, the price can move into the $1,500- $2,250 range. If that move with full packing is an apartment on the third floor with stairs, costs could increase into the $2,250-$3,000 range for the same inventory. No two moves are the same, but this gives you a real idea on how certain factors can impact the total cost of your move.
We can work up over-the-phone hourly quotes for some moves but always recommend an on-site estimate for 3-bedroom-and-up residences, as well as commercial moves.
DIY vs Professional Movers in Melbourne, FL
We did a full breakdown about U-Haul vs. PODS vs. Full-Service Moving in a recent article you can read more about here. There are many scenarios where this does, in fact, work well and can be a great, cost-effective option.
One of the main factors of the DIY move is how much of the physical labor you can do yourself and how much you have to move overall. As we pointed out, when you’re young, most are very physically capable and don’t have too much to move. As you get older, you are less physically capable and seem to acquire a lot of things that need to be moved. Somewhere along that process is where most make the transition to using full-service movers.
Another big factor is time. Do you have a short timeline you need to move in, or will it be a slower process? The slower the timeline, the more you can usually do yourself. The tighter the timeline, the more professionals come into play to handle the whole move. Professionals can come in and get your entire home packed and moved in just days, whereas it may take you and your family weeks of steady work to complete, time which you just can’t seem to find anymore, too.
Then there are the obvious risks of damage to your furniture, as well as risks of driving the huge moving truck. As you get older, you also tend to spend more on the furniture in your house and see the value in having a company move that will wrap everything to ensure it’s safely moved and stand behind it if something does happen.
For a full breakdown on Melbourne, Florida moving this article has a full breakdown for moving not just in Melbourne, Florida but anywhere in Brevard County. The Complete Guide to Moving in Brevard County, Florida (2026 Edition)
Tips to Make a Melbourne Move Easier
Actionable advice:
- Start early in the day: There is no avoiding the heat in the summer. The best you can do is start early with a professional crew to make for as efficient of a move day as possible.
- Reserve elevators: This can be a huge one. Reserving an elevator will avoid having to share the elevator with residents of the building, which can drastically slow down your move. You may also be able to lock out a dedicated service elevator with a key to give your moving crew complete control of the elevator for your move. This will drastically speed things up so you moving crews don’t have to call and wait for the elevator every trip up/down to the moving truck.
- Review HOA guidelines: Some HOAs are easygoing, and some have strict regulations when it comes to moving. It’s important to know all the specifics to ensure your moving day doesn’t have any unexpected surprises come up.
- Ask about fragile items: Different companies have different ways of handling fragile items. And fragile items aren’t just TVs, mirrors, lamps, etc. Some companies even have policies on items such as a “Big Green Egg,” the large ceramic grills, requiring them to be crated to be moved. Some companies require fragile items to be boxed, some don’t. It’s important to know all of this beforehand to avoid a move-day upcharge if you do not have the items properly prepped to move.
- Sign your moving estimate: This is a simple one, but you would be surprised how many companies do not send a quote in writing. At Tropic Moving, we text and email the moving estimate to you, and you are also able to digitally sign it before your move to hold both parties to the agreement. For the client, it holds the moving company to honor the pricing, and for the moving company, it holds the client accountable to the job details that were provided, such as how much packing is being required, as well as if the inventory changes from the estimate day to the move day.
Our Goal at Tropic Moving is to Make Life Easy as the premier moving company in Melbourne, Florida. This is from a fast and efficient first intake call to work up an estimate all the way along the process to the final box being unloaded into your new residence. This includes quickly working up a moving estimate, sending you a written copy via text or email, and clear communication along the way until your crew arrives on move day. You can even get an estimate started right on our website and put in as much information as you can to help speed up the process. You can also call our office anytime during business hours, and one of our representatives can quickly work up a moving estimate for your upcoming move.