Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Miami Gardens, FL
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Portsmouth leads 12 of 23 categories
Miami Gardens
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$56,071
Violent Crime Index
109⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
111,618 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
45% less violent crime than Portsmouth
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 49°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,583/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Portsmouth
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 6.6%)
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $86k less ($213,300 vs $299,700)
Rent averages $358/mo less ($1,225 vs $1,583)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (6.6%)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami Gardens
More college-educated — 21.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Miami Gardens
Violent Crime
45% lower
414.6 vs 752.4 per 100k
Portsmouth
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Portsmouth
Median Income
$1,083
$57,154 vs $56,071/yr
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$86k less
$213,300 vs $299,700
Portsmouth
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
6.6% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Miami Gardens, FL | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $299,700 | $213,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,583⚠ High | $1,225 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,071 | $57,154 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 6.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 192⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 184⚠ 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 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.7% | 21.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.4% | 89.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 50.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,618 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 38.2 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.7% ✓ Higher | 56.1% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Miami Gardens's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Portsmouth leads 12 of 23 categories. Miami Gardens wins 11 and Portsmouth wins 12. 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 Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($299,700 vs $213,300 median home), income ($56,071 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Miami Gardens, FL and Portsmouth, VA are about 788 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.