Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Highlands Ranch, CO
VS
Miami Gardens, FL
🏆 Highlands Ranch leads 16 of 23 categories
Highlands Ranch
Colorado
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$148,227 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
36 ✓ Safer
Population
101,514
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.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Pros
Households earn $92,156 more per year on average
67% less violent crime than Miami Gardens
More college-educated — 65.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (3.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (138.1 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $637,400
Higher rents — median is $2,353/mo
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
Homes cost $338k less ($299,700 vs $637,400)
Rent averages $770/mo less ($1,583 vs $2,353)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Highlands Ranch by $92,156/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
Highlands Ranch
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Highlands Ranch
Median Income
$92,156
$148,227 vs $56,071/yr
Highlands Ranch
Violent Crime
67% lower
138.1 vs 414.6 per 100k
Highlands Ranch
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
3.4% vs 7.9% unemployment
Miami Gardens
Median Home Value
$338k less
$299,700 vs $637,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Highlands Ranch, 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 | $637,400⚠ High | $299,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,353⚠ High | $1,583⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $148,227 ✓ Higher | $56,071 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 25.1 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 26.2% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 48 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 36 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 65 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| High School or Higher | 98.8% ✓ Higher | 82.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Douglas County School District No. Re 1 | 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 | 18.2" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 101,514 | 111,618 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 38.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 79.4% ✓ Higher | 64.7% |
| Under 18 | 24.9% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.4% | 16.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Highlands Ranch's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Miami Gardens's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Highlands Ranch is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Highlands Ranch leads 16 of 23 categories. Highlands Ranch 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 Highlands Ranch to Miami Gardens or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($637,400 vs $299,700 median home), income ($148,227 vs $56,071), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Highlands Ranch, CO and Miami Gardens, FL are about 1,708 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.