Head-to-Head · City Comparison
McAllen, TX
VS
Miami Gardens, FL
🏆 McAllen leads 17 of 23 categories
McAllen
Texas
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.6 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,326 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39 ✓ Safer
Population
142,722 ✓ Larger
Miami Gardens
Florida
6
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.
McAllen, TX
Pros
Homes cost $141k less ($158,700 vs $299,700)
Rent averages $628/mo less ($955 vs $1,583)
64% less violent crime than Miami Gardens
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami Gardens
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.4%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (150.0 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 98°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,583/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than McAllen
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 5.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
McAllen
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 85.6 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
McAllen
Violent Crime
64% lower
150.0 vs 414.6 per 100k
McAllen
Median Home Value
$141k less
$158,700 vs $299,700
McAllen
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.9% unemployment
McAllen
Summer Heat
7.9°F warmer
July avg high 97.5°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | McAllen, TX | Miami Gardens, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.6 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $158,700 ✓ Lower | $299,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $955 ✓ Lower | $1,583⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,326 ✓ Higher | $56,071 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 9.5% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 39 ✓ Safer | 109⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 87 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| High School or Higher | 78.7% | 82.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MCALLEN ISD | MIAMI-DADE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 71.4°F | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.5°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 27.4" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.1" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,722 ✓ Larger | 111,618 |
| Median Age | 32.9 | 38.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 59.4% | 64.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.3% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 13.1% | 16.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
McAllen's cost of living index is 85.6 vs Miami Gardens's 111.8 (US average = 100).
McAllen is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, McAllen leads 17 of 23 categories. McAllen wins 17 and Miami Gardens wins 6. 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 McAllen to Miami Gardens or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($158,700 vs $299,700 median home), income ($56,326 vs $56,071), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
McAllen, TX and Miami Gardens, FL are about 1,116 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.