Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Miami Gardens, FL
VS
Scottsdale, AZ
🏆 Scottsdale leads 18 of 22 categories
Miami Gardens
Florida
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$56,071
Violent Crime Index
109⚠ High
Population
111,618
Scottsdale
Arizona
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$104,197 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
40 ✓ Safer
Population
240,537 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
Homes cost $352k less ($299,700 vs $651,800)
Rent averages $185/mo less ($1,583 vs $1,768)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 64°F
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 99°F
Cons
Median income trails Scottsdale by $48,126/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 3.5%)
Longer commutes — 32.3 min average each way
Scottsdale, AZ
Pros
Households earn $48,126 more per year on average
63% less violent crime than Miami Gardens
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (3.5%)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (152.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $651,800
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 99°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Miami Gardens
Median Home Value
$352k less
$299,700 vs $651,800
Scottsdale
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 104.0 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Scottsdale
Median Income
$48,126
$104,197 vs $56,071/yr
Scottsdale
Violent Crime
63% lower
152.5 vs 414.6 per 100k
Scottsdale
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
3.5% vs 7.9% unemployment
Scottsdale
Summer Heat
9.8°F warmer
July avg high 99.4°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Miami Gardens, FL | Scottsdale, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 104.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $299,700 ✓ Lower | $651,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,583⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,071 | $104,197 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 3.5% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 21.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 26.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 60 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High | 40 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 | 16.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.7% | 61.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.4% | 97.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | Scottsdale Unified District (4240) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer | 63.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 99.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 11.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,618 | 240,537 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.2 | 48.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.7% | 67.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 14.3% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% | 25.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Miami Gardens's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Scottsdale's 104.0 (US average = 100).
Scottsdale is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Scottsdale leads 18 of 22 categories. Miami Gardens wins 4 and Scottsdale wins 18. 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 Scottsdale or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($299,700 vs $651,800 median home), income ($56,071 vs $104,197), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Miami Gardens, FL and Scottsdale, AZ are about 1,961 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.