Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Miami Gardens, FL
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Wilmington leads 14 of 23 categories
Miami Gardens
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$56,071
Violent Crime Index
109⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
111,618
Wilmington
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,908 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
116,933 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
14% less violent crime than Wilmington
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 57°F
Homes cost $19k less ($299,700 vs $318,600)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,583/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Wilmington
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 4.9%)
Wilmington, NC
Pros
Rent averages $370/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,583)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.9%)
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami Gardens
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pricier housing — median home is $318,600
Key Differences at a Glance
Miami Gardens
Violent Crime
14% lower
414.6 vs 482.8 per 100k
Miami Gardens
Median Home Value
$19k less
$299,700 vs $318,600
Wilmington
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Median Income
$2,837
$58,908 vs $56,071/yr
Wilmington
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.9% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Miami Gardens, FL | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $299,700 ✓ Lower | $318,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,583⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,071 | $58,908 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 4.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.7% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.4% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 90.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 60.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,618 | 116,933 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.2 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.7% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 16.6% | 17.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Miami Gardens's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Wilmington leads 14 of 23 categories. Miami Gardens wins 9 and Wilmington 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 Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($299,700 vs $318,600 median home), income ($56,071 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Miami Gardens, FL and Wilmington, NC are about 588 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.