Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Miami Gardens, FL
VS
Orlando, FL
🏆 Orlando leads 13 of 22 categories
Miami Gardens
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$56,071
Violent Crime Index
109⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
111,618
Orlando
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,292 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
307,738 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
50% less violent crime than Orlando
Homes cost $33k less ($299,700 vs $332,700)
Cons
Median income trails Orlando by $10,221/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Orlando
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 5.2%)
Orlando, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 41.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $10,221 more per year on average
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami Gardens
Cons
Violent crime (835.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4028.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $332,700
Key Differences at a Glance
Miami Gardens
Violent Crime
50% lower
414.6 vs 835.8 per 100k
Miami Gardens
Median Home Value
$33k less
$299,700 vs $332,700
Orlando
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 101.1 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Orlando
Median Income
$10,221
$66,292 vs $56,071/yr
Orlando
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Miami Gardens, FL | Orlando, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 101.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $299,700 ✓ Lower | $332,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,583⚠ High | $1,509⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,071 | $66,292 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 26.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 209⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.7% | 41.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.4% | 91.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | ORANGE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer | 71.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 92.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 51.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,618 | 307,738 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.2 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.7% ✓ Higher | 39.2% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Miami Gardens's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Orlando's 101.1 (US average = 100).
Orlando is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Orlando leads 13 of 22 categories. Miami Gardens wins 9 and Orlando 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 Gardens to Orlando or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($299,700 vs $332,700 median home), income ($56,071 vs $66,292), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Miami Gardens, FL and Orlando, FL are about 181 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.