Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Miami Gardens, FL
VS
Tacoma, WA
🏆 Miami Gardens leads 12 of 23 categories
Miami Gardens
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$56,071
Violent Crime Index
109⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
111,618
Tacoma
Washington
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$79,085 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
280⚠ High
Population
219,234 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
61% less violent crime than Tacoma
Homes cost $116k less ($299,700 vs $415,300)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 48°F
Cons
Median income trails Tacoma by $23,014/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 5.4%)
Higher rents — median is $1,583/mo
Tacoma, WA
Pros
Households earn $23,014 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.5 pts lower (5.4%)
More college-educated — 32.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 90°F
Rent averages $94/mo less ($1,489 vs $1,583)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $415,300
Violent crime (1063.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (5603.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Miami Gardens
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Miami Gardens
Violent Crime
61% lower
414.6 vs 1063.0 per 100k
Miami Gardens
Median Home Value
$116k less
$299,700 vs $415,300
Miami Gardens
Summer Heat
12.8°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 76.8°F
Tacoma
Median Income
$23,014
$79,085 vs $56,071/yr
Tacoma
Unemployment
2.5 pp lower
5.4% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Miami Gardens, FL | Tacoma, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $299,700 ✓ Lower | $415,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,583⚠ High | $1,489⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,071 | $79,085 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.4%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 275⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 280⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 267⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B- (91) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 | 18.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.7% | 32.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.4% | 90.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | Tacoma School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer | 48.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 76.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 40.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 5.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,618 | 219,234 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.2 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.7% ✓ Higher | 56.8% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 19.7% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Miami Gardens's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Tacoma's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Miami Gardens is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Miami Gardens leads 12 of 23 categories. Miami Gardens wins 12 and Tacoma 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 Tacoma or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($299,700 vs $415,300 median home), income ($56,071 vs $79,085), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Miami Gardens, FL and Tacoma, WA are about 2,718 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.