Is South Miami, FL a Good Place to Live?
South Miami is a small city of 11,944 in Florida, with a median household income of $78,830 and a 3.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 112 (US average = 100), which is 12% above the national average.
Strengths: South Miami stands out for solid school ratings (A-), a well-educated population.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an above-average cost of living, high home prices, longer commutes. Whether South Miami is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All South Miami city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 111.8South Miami's overall cost of living index is 111.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in South Miami costs roughly 12% more than the average American city.
| Metric | South Miami, FL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $692,400 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,564 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.4% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $78,830 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Near National AverageSouth Miami's violent crime rate is 446.1 per 100,000 residents — 17% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
South Miami is served primarily by MIAMI-DADE. The student-to-teacher ratio is 19.4:1 (slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | South Miami, FL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | MIAMI-DADE | — |
| Elementary Schools | 288 | — |
| Middle Schools | 77 | — |
| High Schools | 130 | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 19.4:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 56.0% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 94.2% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
South Miami sees average highs of 74.5°F in January and 88.6°F in July, with 66.0 inches of annual precipitation .
| Metric | South Miami, FL |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 74.5°F |
| Average High — July | 88.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 66.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | Trace / None |
Demographics
| Metric | South Miami, FL | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,944 | — |
| Median Age | 39.6 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 32.4 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 51.7% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 9.7% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 32.6% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 4.3% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.3% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 16.3% | 16.8% |