Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Miami Gardens, FL
🏆 Boca Raton leads 17 of 21 categories
Boca Raton
Florida
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
97,980
Miami Gardens
Florida
4
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.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
Households earn $39,499 more per year on average
59% less violent crime than Miami Gardens
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (5.9%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
Homes cost $297k less ($299,700 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $587/mo less ($1,583 vs $2,170)
Cons
Median income trails Boca Raton by $39,499/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 5.9%)
Longer commutes — 32.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Median Income
$39,499
$95,570 vs $56,071/yr
Boca Raton
Violent Crime
59% lower
171.0 vs 414.6 per 100k
Boca Raton
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
5.9% vs 7.9% unemployment
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 111.8 on the COL index
Miami Gardens
Median Home Value
$297k less
$299,700 vs $597,100
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Miami Gardens, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $299,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $1,583⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $56,071 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 82.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | MIAMI-DADE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 75.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 111,618 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 38.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 64.7% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 16.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Miami Gardens's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 21 decided categories above, Boca Raton leads 17 of 21 categories. Boca Raton wins 17 and Miami Gardens wins 4. 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 Boca Raton to Miami Gardens or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $299,700 median home), income ($95,570 vs $56,071), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Miami Gardens, FL are about 31 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.