Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Miami Gardens, FL
VS
St. Louis, MO
🏆 St. Louis leads 12 of 22 categories
Miami Gardens
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$56,071 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
109⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
111,618
St. Louis
Missouri
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,941
Violent Crime Index
360⚠ High
Population
298,018 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
70% less violent crime than St. Louis
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 41°F
Households earn $3,130 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,583/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than St. Louis
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 5.4%)
St. Louis, MO
Pros
Homes cost $126k less ($174,100 vs $299,700)
Rent averages $645/mo less ($938 vs $1,583)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.4%)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami Gardens
More college-educated — 38.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (1367.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (5706.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Miami Gardens by $3,130/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Miami Gardens
Median Income
$3,130
$56,071 vs $52,941/yr
Miami Gardens
Violent Crime
70% lower
414.6 vs 1367.1 per 100k
St. Louis
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 96.3 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
St. Louis
Median Home Value
$126k less
$174,100 vs $299,700
St. Louis
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Miami Gardens, FL | St. Louis, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 96.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $299,700 | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,583⚠ High | $938 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,071 ✓ Higher | $52,941 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 12.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 325⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 360⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 272⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 | 11.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.7% | 38.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.4% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | ST. LOUIS CITY |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer | 40.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 43.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,618 | 298,018 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.2 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.7% ✓ Higher | 44.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 18.5% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 14.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Miami Gardens's cost of living index is 111.8 vs St. Louis's 96.3 (US average = 100).
St. Louis is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, St. Louis leads 12 of 22 categories. Miami Gardens wins 10 and St. Louis 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 St. Louis or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($299,700 vs $174,100 median home), income ($56,071 vs $52,941), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Miami Gardens, FL and St. Louis, MO are about 1,052 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.