Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Durham, NC
VS
Miami Gardens, FL
🏆 Durham leads 12 of 23 categories
Durham
North Carolina
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,710 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
284,094 ✓ Larger
Miami Gardens
Florida
11
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.
Durham, NC
Pros
Households earn $18,639 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 53.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $287/mo less ($1,296 vs $1,583)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami Gardens
Cons
Violent crime (619.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3799.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $316,600
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
33% less violent crime than Durham
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 49°F
Homes cost $17k less ($299,700 vs $316,600)
Cons
Median income trails Durham by $18,639/yr
Higher rents — median is $1,583/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Durham
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Durham
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 96.6 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Durham
Median Income
$18,639
$74,710 vs $56,071/yr
Durham
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
4.3% vs 7.9% unemployment
Miami Gardens
Violent Crime
33% lower
414.6 vs 619.2 per 100k
Miami Gardens
Median Home Value
$17k less
$299,700 vs $316,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Durham, NC | Miami Gardens, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.6 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $316,600⚠ High | $299,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,296 ✓ Lower | $1,583⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $74,710 ✓ Higher | $56,071 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 17.9% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 163⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 181⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 53.8% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| High School or Higher | 91.3% ✓ Higher | 82.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Durham Public Schools | MIAMI-DADE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 48.9°F | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.0°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 50.0" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 5.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 284,094 ✓ Larger | 111,618 |
| Median Age | 34.7 | 38.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.0% | 64.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.7% | 16.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Durham's cost of living index is 96.6 vs Miami Gardens's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Durham is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Durham leads 12 of 23 categories. Durham wins 12 and Miami Gardens wins 11. 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 Durham to Miami Gardens or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($316,600 vs $299,700 median home), income ($74,710 vs $56,071), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Durham, NC and Miami Gardens, FL are about 697 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.