Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Miami Gardens, FL
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Miami Gardens
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$56,071 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
109⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
111,618
Springfield
Missouri
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High
Population
168,873 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
65% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $12,621 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 43°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,583/mo
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Springfield
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 4.8%)
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $153k less ($146,400 vs $299,700)
Rent averages $705/mo less ($878 vs $1,583)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami Gardens
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (4.8%)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1178.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Miami Gardens by $12,621/yr
Property crime (4184.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Miami Gardens
Median Income
$12,621
$56,071 vs $43,450/yr
Miami Gardens
Violent Crime
65% lower
414.6 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Springfield
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$153k less
$146,400 vs $299,700
Springfield
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
4.8% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Miami Gardens, FL | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $299,700 | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,583⚠ High | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,071 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 4.8%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.7% | 30.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.4% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer | 43.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 46.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,618 | 168,873 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.2 ✓ Older | 33.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.7% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 15.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Miami Gardens's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Miami Gardens wins 11 and Springfield wins 11. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($299,700 vs $146,400 median home), income ($56,071 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Miami Gardens, FL and Springfield, MO are about 1,090 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.