Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Memphis, TN
VS
Miami Gardens, FL
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Memphis
Tennessee
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$48,090
Violent Crime Index
658⚠ High
Population
630,027 ✓ Larger
Miami Gardens
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$56,071 ✓ Higher
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.
Memphis, TN
Pros
Homes cost $160k less ($139,600 vs $299,700)
Rent averages $533/mo less ($1,050 vs $1,583)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami Gardens
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Cons
Violent crime (2501.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Miami Gardens by $7,981/yr
Property crime (6899.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
83% less violent crime than Memphis
Households earn $7,981 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (7.9%)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 51°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,583/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Memphis
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Longer commutes — 32.3 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Memphis
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Memphis
Median Home Value
$160k less
$139,600 vs $299,700
Miami Gardens
Median Income
$7,981
$56,071 vs $48,090/yr
Miami Gardens
Violent Crime
83% lower
414.6 vs 2501.3 per 100k
Miami Gardens
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
7.9% vs 8.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Memphis, TN | Miami Gardens, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $139,600 ✓ Lower | $299,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,050 ✓ Lower | $1,583⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $48,090 | $56,071 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 8.6%⚠ High | 7.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.5% | 7.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 400⚠ High | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 658⚠ High | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 329⚠ High | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | — | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.9% ✓ Higher | 17.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.2% ✓ Higher | 82.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Memphis-Shelby County Schools | MIAMI-DADE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.9°F | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.9" ✓ Drier | 68.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 630,027 ✓ Larger | 111,618 |
| Median Age | 34.5 | 38.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 46.6% | 64.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 22.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.0% | 16.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Memphis's cost of living index is 92.4 vs Miami Gardens's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Memphis is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Memphis wins 11 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 Memphis to Miami Gardens or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($139,600 vs $299,700 median home), income ($48,090 vs $56,071), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Memphis, TN and Miami Gardens, FL are about 857 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.