Fort Lauderdale, FL vs Miami, FL
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Sep 2026
Report card
| Category | Fort LauderdaleFort Lauderdale, FL | MiamiMiami, FL | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Average | |
| Cost of Living | Same | ||
| Crime | Elevated | Elevated | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Great | Average | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | |
| Strategic | Vulnerable | High Risk |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
25 mi is the distance from Fort Lauderdale, FL to its nearest large city, while Miami, FL is only 1 mi away, a difference that places Fort Lauderdale in the 30th percentile and Miami in the 2nd percentile for this metric in 2023 Census figures. Median household income in Fort Lauderdale is $79,935, which is 35% higher than Miami's $59,390, putting Fort Lauderdale in the 59th percentile and Miami in the 29th percentile. Per-capita income is $57,845 in Fort Lauderdale versus $42,528 in Miami, a 36% higher figure for Fort Lauderdale, which ranks in the 86th percentile compared to Miami's 63rd percentile. The unemployment rate is 3.2% in Fort Lauderdale and 2.4% in Miami, with Fort Lauderdale 0.8 points higher, placing it in the 29th percentile and Miami in the 5th percentile.
Job growth over the past year is +1.0% for Fort Lauderdale and +1.9% for Miami, with Miami 0.9 points higher, ranking Fort Lauderdale in the 46th percentile and Miami in the 74th percentile. Violent crime per 100,000 people is 606 in Fort Lauderdale and 358 in Miami, a 69% higher rate for Fort Lauderdale, which sits in the 90th percentile versus Miami's 72nd percentile. The median age is 42.9 in Fort Lauderdale and 39.7 in Miami, making Fort Lauderdale 3.2 years older, with the 80th and 63rd percentiles respectively.
AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them. Generated Oct 2026.
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Where they differ most
Cost of living
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Miami, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 15680th pctl | 15379th pctl | About the same |
| Home valueMedian home value | $455,60078th pctl | $475,20081st pctl | About the same |
| Median rent | $1,77684th pctl | $1,65778th pctl | Median rent: Fort Lauderdale, FL $1,776; Miami, FL $1,657; Fort Lauderdale is 7% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $79,93559th pctl | $59,39029th pctl | Median household income: Fort Lauderdale, FL $79,935; Miami, FL $59,390; Fort Lauderdale is 35% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $88,51580th pctl | $92,32382nd pctl | About the same |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $130,11780th pctl | $135,71582nd pctl | About the same |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Stretched | Unaffordable | Housing affordability: Fort Lauderdale, FL C-; Miami, FL D-; Fort Lauderdale is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Miami needs about
$73,600
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 156 vs 153). Leaves out taxes, groceries and transport. How it works →
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
Jobs & income
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Miami, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 3.2%29th pctl | 2.4%5th pctl | Unemployment: Fort Lauderdale, FL 3.2%; Miami, FL 2.4%; Fort Lauderdale is 0.8 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.0%46th pctl | +1.9%74th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Fort Lauderdale, FL +1.0%; Miami, FL +1.9%; Miami is 0.9 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $57,84586th pctl | $42,52863rd pctl | Per-capita income: Fort Lauderdale, FL $57,845; Miami, FL $42,528; Fort Lauderdale is 36% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 15.2%67th pctl | 19.2%80th pctl | Poverty rate: Fort Lauderdale, FL 15.2%; Miami, FL 19.2%; Miami is 4.0 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 26.5 min70th pctl | 27.3 min75th pctl | About the same |
| Work from home | 17.5%77th pctl | 14.2%67th pctl | Work from home: Fort Lauderdale, FL 17.5%; Miami, FL 14.2%; Fort Lauderdale is 3.3 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | About the same |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Miami, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 60690th pctl | 35872nd pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Fort Lauderdale, FL 606; Miami, FL 358; Fort Lauderdale is 69% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 2,98192nd pctl | 2,24382nd pctl | Property crime per 100k: Fort Lauderdale, FL 2,981; Miami, FL 2,243; Fort Lauderdale is 33% higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Rising | Rising | |
| Crime & safety | Dangerous | Fair | About the same |
| Traffic safety | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Miami, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air quality | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | GreatCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| ClimateClimate comfort | Sweaty | Sweaty | About the same |
| HealthcareHealthcare access | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | ExcellentCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | About the same |
| Tap water | Fair | Clean | Tap water: Fort Lauderdale, FL C+; Miami, FL A; Miami is graded higher. |
| Power grid | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ReliableState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | About the same |
| HomesteadingHomesteading potential | Prime | Prime | About the same |
| Disaster riskNational disaster risk | High-Risk | High-Risk | About the same |
3 rows not shown: broadband and local food access aren't available for either place; walkability isn't available for Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
Both are in Florida, so state taxes and state laws (homeschooling, firearms, property rights) are the same. See Florida →
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Miami, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 25 mi30th pctl | 1 mi2nd pctl | Nearest large city: Fort Lauderdale, FL 25 mi; Miami, FL 1 mi; Fort Lauderdale is 18.0 times higher. |
| Target proximity | Weak | Weak | Target proximity: Fort Lauderdale, FL C-; Miami, FL D+; Fort Lauderdale is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 1,076 mi96th pctl | 1,074 mi96th pctl | About the same |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 0 mi0th pctl | 1 mi2nd pctl | Distance to coastline: Fort Lauderdale, FL 0 mi; Miami, FL 1 mi; Miami is higher (Fort Lauderdale: 0 mi). |
| StrategicStrategic location | Vulnerable | High Risk | Strategic location: Fort Lauderdale, FL D; Miami, FL F; Fort Lauderdale is graded higher. |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Miami, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 183,03294th pctl | 446,66398th pctl | Population: Fort Lauderdale, FL 183,032; Miami, FL 446,663; Miami is 2.4 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 5,29393rd pctl | 12,40899th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Fort Lauderdale, FL 5,293; Miami, FL 12,408; Miami is 2.3 times higher. |
| Median age | 42.980th pctl | 39.763rd pctl | Median age: Fort Lauderdale, FL 42.9; Miami, FL 39.7; Fort Lauderdale is 3.2 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 39.8%66th pctl | 35.6%58th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Fort Lauderdale, FL 39.8%; Miami, FL 35.6%; Fort Lauderdale is 4.2 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.222nd pctl | 2.331st pctl | About the same |
More about Fort Lauderdale's residents · Miami's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
| Measure | Fort LauderdaleFort Lauderdale, FL | MiamiMiami, FL |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | D+22 | R+6 |
| 2024 presidential | D +39.0 pts | R +15.0 pts |
Full politics data: Fort Lauderdale · Miami
Moving between Fort Lauderdale and Miami
- Median rent: $1,776 in Fort Lauderdale, $1,657 in Miami
- Median home value: $455,600 in Fort Lauderdale, $475,200 in Miami
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 156 in Fort Lauderdale, 153 in Miami
- Median household income: $79,935 in Fort Lauderdale, $59,390 in Miami
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $130,117 in Fort Lauderdale, $135,715 in Miami
- Unemployment: 3.2% in Fort Lauderdale, 2.4% in Miami
- Average commute: 26.5 min in Fort Lauderdale, 27.3 min in Miami
- Violent crime per 100k: 606 in Fort Lauderdale, 358 in Miami
Weigh these by what matters to you
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- Data: Cost of living: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, ReloMaps cost-of-living index (2023–2024).
- Data: Jobs & income: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
- Data: Safety: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
- Data: Quality of life: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
- Data: Strategic location: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
- Data: People: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area.
Narrative content on this page is AI-generated and may contain mistakes. Verify any details that matter before acting on them.
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