Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Miami Gardens, FL
VS
Wichita, KS
🏆 Wichita leads 15 of 23 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
Wichita
Kansas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,712 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
395,951 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
23% less violent crime than Wichita
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 44°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,583/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Wichita
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 5.7%)
Wichita, KS
Pros
Homes cost $133k less ($166,400 vs $299,700)
Rent averages $668/mo less ($915 vs $1,583)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami Gardens
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 pts lower (5.7%)
More college-educated — 31.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (538.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Key Differences at a Glance
Miami Gardens
Violent Crime
23% lower
414.6 vs 538.6 per 100k
Wichita
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 89.5 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Wichita
Median Income
$4,641
$60,712 vs $56,071/yr
Wichita
Median Home Value
$133k less
$166,400 vs $299,700
Wichita
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
5.7% vs 7.9% unemployment
Wichita
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 92.6°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Miami Gardens, FL | Wichita, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 89.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $299,700 | $166,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,583⚠ High | $915 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,071 | $60,712 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 5.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% ✓ Higher | 6.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High | 110⚠ High ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.7% | 31.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.4% | 88.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | Wichita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer | 43.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 92.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 35.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 12.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,618 | 395,951 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.2 ✓ Older | 35.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.7% ✓ Higher | 58.5% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Miami Gardens's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Wichita's 89.5 (US average = 100).
Wichita is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wichita leads 15 of 23 categories. Miami Gardens wins 8 and Wichita 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 Wichita or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($299,700 vs $166,400 median home), income ($56,071 vs $60,712), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Miami Gardens, FL and Wichita, KS are about 1,287 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.