Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
VS
Miami Gardens, FL
🏆 Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 16 of 23 categories
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Kentucky
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,087 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
69 ✓ Safer
Population
321,276 ✓ Larger
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
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY
Pros
Rent averages $518/mo less ($1,065 vs $1,583)
37% less violent crime than Miami Gardens
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 46.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami Gardens
Violent crime is well below the national average (262.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 42°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,583/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median income trails Lexington-Fayette urban county by $10,016/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Income
$10,016
$66,087 vs $56,071/yr
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Violent Crime
37% lower
262.0 vs 414.6 per 100k
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Median Home Value
$52k less
$247,900 vs $299,700
Lexington-Fayette urban county
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
5.0% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Miami Gardens, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $247,900 ✓ Lower | $299,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,065 ✓ Lower | $1,583⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,087 ✓ Higher | $56,071 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.8 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.6% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (114) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.5% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| High School or Higher | 92.2% ✓ Higher | 82.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fayette County | MIAMI-DADE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.3°F | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.8" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 14.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 321,276 ✓ Larger | 111,618 |
| Median Age | 35.2 | 38.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.3% | 64.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.6% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 16.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lexington-Fayette urban county's cost of living index is 93.1 vs Miami Gardens's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Lexington-Fayette urban county is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Lexington-Fayette urban county leads 16 of 23 categories. Lexington-Fayette urban county 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 Lexington-Fayette urban county to Miami Gardens or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($247,900 vs $299,700 median home), income ($66,087 vs $56,071), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY and Miami Gardens, FL are about 871 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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