Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Arlington, TX
VS
Miami Gardens, FL
🏆 Arlington leads 16 of 23 categories
Arlington
Texas
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,736 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
393,469 ✓ 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.
Arlington, TX
Pros
Households earn $15,665 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (5.6%)
Rent averages $286/mo less ($1,297 vs $1,583)
Homes cost $48k less ($251,300 vs $299,700)
More college-educated — 32.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (482.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
14% less violent crime than Arlington
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 58°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 96°F
Cons
Median income trails Arlington by $15,665/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,583/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 5.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Arlington
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Arlington
Median Income
$15,665
$71,736 vs $56,071/yr
Arlington
Median Home Value
$48k less
$251,300 vs $299,700
Arlington
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
5.6% vs 7.9% unemployment
Arlington
Summer Heat
6.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.9°F vs 89.6°F
Miami Gardens
Violent Crime
14% lower
414.6 vs 482.9 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Arlington, TX | Miami Gardens, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $251,300 ✓ Lower | $299,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,297 ✓ Lower | $1,583⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,736 ✓ Higher | $56,071 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 122⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 115⚠ High ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.4% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| High School or Higher | 85.9% ✓ Higher | 82.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ARLINGTON ISD | MIAMI-DADE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.9°F | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 36.2" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.8" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 393,469 ✓ Larger | 111,618 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 38.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.9% | 64.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.3% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 16.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Arlington's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Miami Gardens's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Arlington is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Arlington leads 16 of 23 categories. Arlington 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 Arlington to Miami Gardens or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($251,300 vs $299,700 median home), income ($71,736 vs $56,071), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Arlington, TX and Miami Gardens, FL are about 1,117 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.