Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Miami Gardens, FL
VS
Suffolk, VA
🏆 Suffolk leads 17 of 23 categories
Miami Gardens
Florida
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$56,071
Violent Crime Index
109⚠ High
Population
111,618 ✓ Larger
Suffolk
Virginia
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,758 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
98 ✓ Safer
Population
94,856
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 49°F
Cons
Median income trails Suffolk by $31,687/yr
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Suffolk
Higher rents — median is $1,583/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Suffolk, VA
Pros
Households earn $31,687 more per year on average
11% less violent crime than Miami Gardens
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (6.3%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami Gardens
Rent averages $207/mo less ($1,376 vs $1,583)
More college-educated — 32.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Miami Gardens
Median Home Value
$15k less
$299,700 vs $314,400
Suffolk
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Suffolk
Median Income
$31,687
$87,758 vs $56,071/yr
Suffolk
Violent Crime
11% lower
371.0 vs 414.6 per 100k
Suffolk
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
6.3% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Miami Gardens, FL | Suffolk, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $299,700 ✓ Lower | $314,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,583⚠ High | $1,376⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,071 | $87,758 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 6.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 7.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 89 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 75 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B (99) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 | 14.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.7% | 32.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.4% | 91.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | Suffolk City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer | 49.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 51.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,618 ✓ Larger | 94,856 |
| Median Age | 38.2 | 38.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.7% | 70.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 14.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Miami Gardens's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Suffolk's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Suffolk is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Suffolk leads 17 of 23 categories. Miami Gardens wins 6 and Suffolk wins 17. 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 Suffolk or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($299,700 vs $314,400 median home), income ($56,071 vs $87,758), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Miami Gardens, FL and Suffolk, VA are about 772 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.