Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alafaya, FL
VS
Miami Gardens, FL
🏆 Alafaya leads 11 of 19 categories
Alafaya
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,251 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,531
Miami Gardens
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$56,071
Violent Crime Index
109⚠ High
Population
111,618 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alafaya, FL
Pros
Households earn $37,180 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.5 pts lower (4.4%)
More college-educated — 47.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami Gardens
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $361,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
Homes cost $62k less ($299,700 vs $361,800)
Rent averages $185/mo less ($1,583 vs $1,768)
Cons
Median income trails Alafaya by $37,180/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Alafaya
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 4.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alafaya
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 101.1 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Alafaya
Median Income
$37,180
$93,251 vs $56,071/yr
Alafaya
Unemployment
3.5 pp lower
4.4% vs 7.9% unemployment
Miami Gardens
Median Home Value
$62k less
$299,700 vs $361,800
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alafaya, FL | Miami Gardens, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $361,800⚠ High | $299,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,768⚠ High | $1,583⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $93,251 ✓ Higher | $56,071 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.2% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 112⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 109⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (108) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 47.9% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.5% ✓ Higher | 82.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ORANGE | MIAMI-DADE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.2°F | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.2" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,531 | 111,618 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.9 | 38.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.4% | 64.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.1% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 10.8% | 16.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alafaya's cost of living index is 101.1 vs Miami Gardens's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Alafaya is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Alafaya leads 11 of 19 categories. Alafaya wins 11 and Miami Gardens wins 8. 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 Alafaya to Miami Gardens or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($361,800 vs $299,700 median home), income ($93,251 vs $56,071), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alafaya, FL and Miami Gardens, FL are about 187 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.