Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Miami Gardens, FL
🏆 Centennial leads 16 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702
Miami Gardens
Florida
7
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.
Centennial, CO
Pros
Households earn $68,546 more per year on average
58% less violent crime than Miami Gardens
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $586,500
Higher rents — median is $1,949/mo
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
Homes cost $287k less ($299,700 vs $586,500)
Rent averages $366/mo less ($1,583 vs $1,949)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $68,546/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 3.4%)
Longer commutes — 32.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Centennial
Median Income
$68,546
$124,617 vs $56,071/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
58% lower
172.8 vs 414.6 per 100k
Centennial
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
3.4% vs 7.9% unemployment
Miami Gardens
Median Home Value
$287k less
$299,700 vs $586,500
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Miami Gardens, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High | $299,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High | $1,583⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $56,071 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 82.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | MIAMI-DADE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 111,618 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 38.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 64.7% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 16.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Miami Gardens's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Centennial is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 16 of 23 categories. Centennial 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 Centennial to Miami Gardens or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $299,700 median home), income ($124,617 vs $56,071), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Miami Gardens, FL are about 1,704 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.