Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Miami, FL
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Sparks leads 13 of 23 categories
Miami
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$54,858
Violent Crime Index
125⚠ High
Population
443,665 ✓ Larger
Sparks
Nevada
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Miami, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.0%)
Milder winters — January highs near 74°F vs 48°F
More college-educated — 34.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Sparks by $28,080/yr
Violent crime (473.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2995.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Sparks, NV
Pros
Households earn $28,080 more per year on average
17% less violent crime than Miami
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami
Cons
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.0%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Miami
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.1% unemployment
Sparks
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 103.2 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Sparks
Median Income
$28,080
$82,938 vs $54,858/yr
Sparks
Violent Crime
17% lower
394.4 vs 473.3 per 100k
Sparks
Median Home Value
$10k less
$423,500 vs $433,900
Sparks
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 87.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Miami, FL | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 103.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $433,900⚠ High | $423,500⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,494⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $54,858 | $82,938 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.2 min⚠ High | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.9% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 132⚠ High | 111⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 125⚠ High | 104⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 143⚠ High | 123⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 | 19.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.2% ✓ Higher | 25.4% |
| High School or Higher | 78.8% | 85.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 73.6°F ✓ Warmer | 48.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 87.8°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 57.2" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 443,665 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 39.7 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 30.1% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.5% | 23.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% ✓ More | 15.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Miami's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Sparks is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Sparks leads 13 of 23 categories. Miami wins 10 and Sparks wins 13. 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 Miami to Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($433,900 vs $423,500 median home), income ($54,858 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Miami, FL and Sparks, NV are about 2,463 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.