Miami, FL vs New York City, NY
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Sep 2026
Report card
| Category | MiamiMiami, FL | New York CityNew York City, NY | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | |||
| Affluence | Average | Average | |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Elevated | High Risk | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Average | Average | Same |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Moderate | |
| Strategic | High Risk | High Risk | Same |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
9.1% is the state and local tax burden for Miami, FL, compared with 15.9% for New York City, NY, a 6.8-point difference in 2023 Census figures. Unemployment in Miami stands at 2.4%, placing it in the 5th percentile, while New York City’s rate is 5.1% in the 91st percentile. Median household income is $59,390 in Miami and $79,713 in New York City, 34% higher in the latter, with Miami in the 29th percentile and New York City in the 59th.
Traffic deaths per 100,000 people are 18 in Miami and 3 in New York City, a 6.8 times higher rate in Miami, placing it in the 55th percentile versus New York City’s 2nd. The air quality index is 48 in Miami and 39 in New York City, 23% higher in Miami, with percentiles of 75 and 30 respectively. Summer dew point reaches 74°F in Miami, in the 98th percentile, and 64°F in New York City, in the 56th, a 10°F difference. Distance to an international border is 1,074 miles for Miami and 262 miles for New York City, 4.1 times farther for Miami, in the 96th percentile compared with the 36th.
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 | Miami, FL | New York City, NY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 15379th pctl | 19890th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Miami, FL 153; New York City, NY 198; New York City is 29% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $475,20081st pctl | $751,70092nd pctl | Median home value: Miami, FL $475,200; New York City, NY $751,700; New York City is 58% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,65778th pctl | $1,77984th pctl | Median rent: Miami, FL $1,657; New York City, NY $1,779; New York City is 7% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $59,39029th pctl | $79,71359th pctl | Median household income: Miami, FL $59,390; New York City, NY $79,713; New York City is 34% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $92,32382nd pctl | $137,61093rd pctl | Comfortable income (single): Miami, FL $92,323; New York City, NY $137,610; New York City is 49% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $135,71582nd pctl | $202,28693rd pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Miami, FL $135,715; New York City, NY $202,286; New York City is 49% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Unaffordable | Unaffordable | About the same |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in New York City needs about
$97,100
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 153 vs 198). 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 | Miami, FL | New York City, NY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 2.4%5th pctl | 5.1%91st pctl | Unemployment: Miami, FL 2.4%; New York City, NY 5.1%; New York City is 2.7 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.9%74th pctl | +6.0%99th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Miami, FL +1.9%; New York City, NY +6.0%; New York City is 4.1 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $42,52863rd pctl | $50,77679th pctl | Per-capita income: Miami, FL $42,528; New York City, NY $50,776; New York City is 19% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 19.2%80th pctl | 17.4%75th pctl | Poverty rate: Miami, FL 19.2%; New York City, NY 17.4%; Miami is 1.8 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 27.3 min75th pctl | 40.6 min99th pctl | Average commute: Miami, FL 27.3 min; New York City, NY 40.6 min; New York City is 13 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 14.2%67th pctl | 15.0%70th pctl | About the same |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Stable | Job market: Miami, FL A+; New York City, NY B-; Miami is graded higher. |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Miami, FL | New York City, NY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 35872nd pctl | 65992nd pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Miami, FL 358; New York City, NY 659; New York City is 84% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 2,24382nd pctl | 2,29683rd pctl | About the same |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Rising | Rising | |
| Crime & safety | Fair | Dangerous | Crime & safety: Miami, FL C-; New York City, NY D-; Miami is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Very SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Miami, FL B-; New York City, NY A+; New York City is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Miami, FL | New York City, NY | 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 | Comfortable | Climate comfort: Miami, FL D-; New York City, NY B-; New York City is graded higher. |
| 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 |
| Walkability | Walkable | Walkable | About the same |
| 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; tap water isn't available for New York City, NY.
Data: EPA AirData, NOAA NCEI, County Health Rankings, FCC, Geoapify POIs, EPA SDWIS, EIA, OpenStreetMap, FEMA National Risk Index (2022–2024).
Taxes & laws
| Metric | Miami, FL | New York City, NY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxes | ModerateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | PredatoryState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | Taxes: Miami, FL B-; New York City, NY F; Miami is graded higher. |
| HomeschoolHomeschool rules | noneState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | moderateState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| FirearmsFirearm laws grade | B-State figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | FState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| Property rightsProperty rights (eminent domain) | AState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | FState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | |
| EnergyEnergy production | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. | ImporterState figure. State-level figure: the local figure isn't published. |
Data: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
Strategic location
How exposed each place is to large-scale disruption, based on distance from big cities, likely targets and natural hazards.
| Metric | Miami, FL | New York City, NY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 1 mi2nd pctl | 5 mi4th pctl | Nearest large city: Miami, FL 1 mi; New York City, NY 5 mi; New York City is 3.5 times higher. |
| Target proximity | Weak | Weak | Target proximity: Miami, FL D+; New York City, NY C; New York City is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 1,074 mi96th pctl | 262 mi36th pctl | Distance to international border: Miami, FL 1,074 mi; New York City, NY 262 mi; Miami is 4.1 times higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 1 mi2nd pctl | 4 mi5th pctl | Distance to coastline: Miami, FL 1 mi; New York City, NY 4 mi; New York City is 2.8 times higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | High Risk | High Risk | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Miami, FL | New York City, NY | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 446,66398th pctl | 8,516,202100th pctl | Population: Miami, FL 446,663; New York City, NY 8,516,202; New York City is 19.1 times larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 12,40899th pctl | 28,342100th pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Miami, FL 12,408; New York City, NY 28,342; New York City is 2.3 times higher. |
| Median age | 39.763rd pctl | 3850th pctl | Median age: Miami, FL 39.7; New York City, NY 38; Miami is 1.7 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.6%58th pctl | 41.0%68th pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Miami, FL 35.6%; New York City, NY 41.0%; New York City is 5.4 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.331st pctl | 2.559th pctl | Average household size: Miami, FL 2.3; New York City, NY 2.5; New York City is 9% larger. |
More about Miami's residents · New York City'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 | MiamiMiami, FL | New York CityNew York City, NY |
|---|---|---|
| Cook PVI | R+6 | D+22 |
| 2024 presidential | R +15.0 pts | D +40.0 pts |
Full politics data: Miami · New York City
Moving between Miami and New York City
- Median rent: $1,657 in Miami, $1,779 in New York City
- Median home value: $475,200 in Miami, $751,700 in New York City
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 153 in Miami, 198 in New York City
- Median household income: $59,390 in Miami, $79,713 in New York City
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $135,715 in Miami, $202,286 in New York City
- Unemployment: 2.4% in Miami, 5.1% in New York City
- Average commute: 27.3 min in Miami, 40.6 min in New York City
- Violent crime per 100k: 358 in Miami, 659 in New York City
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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: Taxes & laws: Tax Foundation, state statutes.
- 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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