Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Abilene, TX
VS
Miami Gardens, FL
🏆 Abilene leads 16 of 23 categories
Abilene
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,254 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
126,356 ✓ Larger
Miami Gardens
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$56,071
Violent Crime Index
109⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
111,618
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Abilene, TX
Pros
Homes cost $138k less ($161,800 vs $299,700)
Rent averages $523/mo less ($1,060 vs $1,583)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 5.1 pts lower (2.8%)
Commutes run 17 min shorter each way
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami Gardens
More college-educated — 26.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 59°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 96°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,583/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Abilene
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 2.8%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Abilene
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 89.8 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Abilene
Median Income
$3,183
$59,254 vs $56,071/yr
Abilene
Median Home Value
$138k less
$161,800 vs $299,700
Abilene
Unemployment
5.1 pp lower
2.8% vs 7.9% unemployment
Abilene
Summer Heat
6.8°F warmer
July avg high 96.4°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Abilene, TX | Miami Gardens, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.8 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $161,800 ✓ Lower | $299,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,060 ✓ Lower | $1,583⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,254 ✓ Higher | $56,071 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 15.2 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.1% | 7.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 112⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 84 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 26.4% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.6% ✓ Higher | 82.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ABILENE ISD | MIAMI-DADE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.8°F | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.4°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.4" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,356 ✓ Larger | 111,618 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 38.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.0% | 64.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.5% | 16.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Abilene's cost of living index is 89.8 vs Miami Gardens's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Abilene is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Abilene leads 16 of 23 categories. Abilene wins 16 and Miami Gardens wins 7. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Abilene to Miami Gardens or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($161,800 vs $299,700 median home), income ($59,254 vs $56,071), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Abilene, TX and Miami Gardens, FL are about 1,256 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.