Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Dallas, TX
VS
Miami Gardens, FL
🏆 Dallas leads 14 of 23 categories
Dallas
Texas
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,985 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
1,300,642 ✓ Larger
Miami Gardens
Florida
9
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.
Dallas, TX
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.0%)
Rent averages $278/mo less ($1,305 vs $1,583)
More college-educated — 36.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $7,914 more per year on average
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Homes cost $29k less ($270,700 vs $299,700)
Cons
Violent crime (658.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3351.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
37% less violent crime than Dallas
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 58°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 97°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,583/mo
Median income trails Dallas by $7,914/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Dallas
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Dallas
Median Income
$7,914
$63,985 vs $56,071/yr
Dallas
Median Home Value
$29k less
$270,700 vs $299,700
Dallas
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.9% unemployment
Dallas
Summer Heat
7.3°F warmer
July avg high 96.9°F vs 89.6°F
Miami Gardens
Violent Crime
37% lower
414.6 vs 658.2 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Dallas, 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 | $270,700 ✓ Lower | $299,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,305 ✓ Lower | $1,583⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $63,985 ✓ Higher | $56,071 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.4 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 173⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 160⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (106) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.5% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| High School or Higher | 80.2% | 82.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | DALLAS ISD | MIAMI-DADE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 57.7°F | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 96.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.4" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 1.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 1,300,642 ✓ Larger | 111,618 |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 38.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 41.9% | 64.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.4% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 11.0% | 16.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Dallas's cost of living index is 103.3 vs Miami Gardens's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Dallas is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Dallas leads 14 of 23 categories. Dallas wins 14 and Miami Gardens wins 9. 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 Dallas to Miami Gardens or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($270,700 vs $299,700 median home), income ($63,985 vs $56,071), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Dallas, TX and Miami Gardens, FL are about 1,100 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.