Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Miami Gardens, FL
VS
Winston-Salem, NC
🏆 Winston-Salem leads 13 of 23 categories
Miami Gardens
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$56,071 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
109⚠ High ✓ Safer
Population
111,618
Winston-Salem
North Carolina
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,416
Violent Crime Index
213⚠ High
Population
249,571 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Miami Gardens, FL
Pros
49% less violent crime than Winston-Salem
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 49°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,583/mo
Cost of living runs 20% higher than Winston-Salem
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (7.9% vs 6.2%)
Winston-Salem, NC
Pros
Rent averages $627/mo less ($956 vs $1,583)
Homes cost $112k less ($187,400 vs $299,700)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Miami Gardens
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (6.2%)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 35.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (809.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2921.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Miami Gardens
Median Income
$1,655
$56,071 vs $54,416/yr
Miami Gardens
Violent Crime
49% lower
414.6 vs 809.7 per 100k
Winston-Salem
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 91.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Winston-Salem
Median Home Value
$112k less
$187,400 vs $299,700
Winston-Salem
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
6.2% vs 7.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Miami Gardens, FL | Winston-Salem, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 91.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $299,700 | $187,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,583⚠ High | $956 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $56,071 ✓ Higher | $54,416 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.9%⚠ High | 6.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.5% | 10.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 112⚠ High ✓ Safer | 183⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 109⚠ High ✓ Safer | 213⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 116⚠ High ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (84) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 | 14.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.7% | 35.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 82.4% | 87.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 75.2°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 68.3" | 43.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,618 | 249,571 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.2 ✓ Older | 35.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.7% ✓ Higher | 53.9% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% | 23.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.6% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Miami Gardens's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Winston-Salem's 91.4 (US average = 100).
Winston-Salem is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Winston-Salem leads 13 of 23 categories. Miami Gardens wins 10 and Winston-Salem wins 13. 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 Winston-Salem or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($299,700 vs $187,400 median home), income ($56,071 vs $54,416), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Miami Gardens, FL and Winston-Salem, NC are about 702 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.