Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Miami Gardens, FL
VS
Tampa, FL
🏆 Tampa leads 14 of 22 categories
Miami Gardens
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$56,071
Violent Crime Index
109⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
111,618
Tampa
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,802 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
117⚠ High
Population
388,768 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
7% less violent crime than Tampa
Homes cost $34k less ($299,700 vs $333,200)
Cons
Median income trails Tampa by $10,731/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher rents — median is $1,583/mo
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 5.2%)
Tampa, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (5.2%)
More college-educated — 43.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $10,731 more per year on average
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Rent averages $161/mo less ($1,422 vs $1,583)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami Gardens
Cons
Violent crime (444.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $333,200
Key Differences at a Glance
Miami Gardens
Violent Crime
7% lower
414.6 vs 444.6 per 100k
Miami Gardens
Median Home Value
$34k less
$299,700 vs $333,200
Tampa
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Tampa
Median Income
$10,731
$66,802 vs $56,071/yr
Tampa
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
5.2% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Miami Gardens, FL | Tampa, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $299,700 ✓ Lower | $333,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,583⚠ High | $1,422⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,071 | $66,802 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 16.0% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 98 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 117⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 70 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.7% | 43.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.4% | 89.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer | 71.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 91.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 49.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,618 | 388,768 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.2 ✓ Older | 35.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.7% ✓ Higher | 50.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 20.8% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Miami Gardens's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Tampa's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Tampa is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tampa leads 14 of 22 categories. Miami Gardens wins 8 and Tampa wins 14. 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 Tampa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($299,700 vs $333,200 median home), income ($56,071 vs $66,802), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Miami Gardens, FL and Tampa, FL are about 196 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.