Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Miami Gardens, FL
VS
Waco, TX
🏆 Waco leads 15 of 22 categories
Miami Gardens
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$56,071 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
109⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
111,618
Waco
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,421
Violent Crime Index
112⚠ High
Population
140,545 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
Households earn $8,650 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 59°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,583/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Waco
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 4.5%)
Waco, TX
Pros
Homes cost $126k less ($174,100 vs $299,700)
Rent averages $545/mo less ($1,038 vs $1,583)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.4 pts lower (4.5%)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami Gardens
Commutes run 15 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 27.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Miami Gardens by $8,650/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Miami Gardens
Median Income
$8,650
$56,071 vs $47,421/yr
Miami Gardens
Violent Crime
3% lower
414.6 vs 425.9 per 100k
Waco
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Waco
Median Home Value
$126k less
$174,100 vs $299,700
Waco
Unemployment
3.4 pp lower
4.5% vs 7.9% unemployment
Waco
Summer Heat
4.9°F warmer
July avg high 94.5°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Miami Gardens, FL | Waco, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $299,700 | $174,100 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,583⚠ High | $1,038 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,071 ✓ Higher | $47,421 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% ✓ Higher | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High | 108⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 112⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 101⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.7% | 27.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.4% | 85.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | WACO ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer | 58.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 94.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,618 | 140,545 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.2 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.7% ✓ Higher | 47.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 23.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Miami Gardens's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Waco's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Waco is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Waco leads 15 of 22 categories. Miami Gardens wins 7 and Waco wins 15. 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 Waco or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($299,700 vs $174,100 median home), income ($56,071 vs $47,421), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Miami Gardens, FL and Waco, TX are about 1,096 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.