Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Miami Gardens, FL
VS
Salem, OR
🏆 Salem 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
Salem
Oregon
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,540 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
175,754 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
22% less violent crime than Salem
Homes cost $50k less ($299,700 vs $349,500)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,583/mo
Median income trails Salem by $11,469/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 6.1%)
Salem, OR
Pros
Rent averages $359/mo less ($1,224 vs $1,583)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (6.1%)
Households earn $11,469 more per year on average
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami Gardens
Cons
Violent crime (532.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $349,500
Property crime (2803.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Miami Gardens
Violent Crime
22% lower
414.6 vs 532.2 per 100k
Miami Gardens
Median Home Value
$50k less
$299,700 vs $349,500
Miami Gardens
Summer Heat
6.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 83.5°F
Salem
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Salem
Median Income
$11,469
$67,540 vs $56,071/yr
Salem
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Miami Gardens, FL | Salem, OR |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $299,700 ✓ Lower | $349,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,583⚠ High | $1,224 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,071 | $67,540 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 12.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 137⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 133⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.7% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.4% | 88.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | Salem-Keizer SD 24J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 83.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 46.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 1.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,618 | 175,754 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.2 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.7% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Miami Gardens's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Salem's 102.4 (US average = 100).
Salem is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Salem leads 12 of 23 categories. Miami Gardens wins 11 and Salem 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 Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($299,700 vs $349,500 median home), income ($56,071 vs $67,540), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Miami Gardens, FL and Salem, OR are about 2,700 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.