Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Miami Gardens, FL
VS
Palm Coast, FL
🏆 Palm Coast leads 14 of 19 categories
Miami Gardens
Florida
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$56,071
Violent Crime Index
109⚠ High
Population
111,618 ✓ Larger
Palm Coast
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$68,824 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
91,082
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 65°F
Cons
Median income trails Palm Coast by $12,753/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 4.1%)
Longer commutes — 32.3 min average each way
Palm Coast, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (4.1%)
Households earn $12,753 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 26.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami Gardens
Homes cost $16k less ($283,300 vs $299,700)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Palm Coast
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 104.5 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Palm Coast
Median Income
$12,753
$68,824 vs $56,071/yr
Palm Coast
Median Home Value
$16k less
$283,300 vs $299,700
Palm Coast
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
4.1% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Miami Gardens, FL | Palm Coast, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 104.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $299,700 | $283,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,583⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,621⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,071 | $68,824 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 13.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.7% | 26.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.4% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | FLAGLER |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer | 65.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 87.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 51.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,618 ✓ Larger | 91,082 |
| Median Age | 38.2 | 50.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.7% | 77.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% | 29.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Miami Gardens's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Palm Coast's 104.5 (US average = 100).
Palm Coast is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Palm Coast leads 14 of 19 categories. Miami Gardens wins 5 and Palm Coast wins 14. 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 Palm Coast or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($299,700 vs $283,300 median home), income ($56,071 vs $68,824), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Miami Gardens, FL and Palm Coast, FL are about 255 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.