Miami, FL vs Tampa, FL
Side-by-side comparison · Updated Sep 2026
Report card
| Category | MiamiMiami, FL | TampaTampa, FL | Same grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| ReloScoreOverall grade | Same | ||
| Affluence | Average | Average | Same |
| Cost of Living | |||
| Crime | Elevated | Safe | |
| Education | |||
| Quality of Life | Average | Good | |
| Sovereignty | Self-Reliant | Self-Reliant | Same |
| Strategic | High Risk | High Risk | Same |
Grades rate each place against all US places. How grades work →
Comparison summary
At 2.4% unemployment, Miami, FL has a lower jobless rate than Tampa, FL, where 3.4% of the labor force is unemployed, a 1.0-point gap in 2023 Census figures. Job growth over the past year also diverges: Miami added +1.9% while Tampa grew +1.2%, a 0.7-point difference. Median household income runs the opposite direction—Tampa’s $71,302 is 20% higher than Miami’s $59,390, placing Tampa in the 48th percentile versus Miami’s 29th.
Property crime shows the largest safety gap, with Miami reporting 2,243 incidents per 100,000 people versus Tampa’s 967—a 2.3× higher rate that puts Miami in the 82nd percentile and Tampa in the 31st. Violent crime is also higher in Miami at 358 per 100,000 compared to Tampa’s 311, a 15% difference. Commutes run longer in Miami at 27.3 minutes on average, while Tampa workers average 24.7 minutes, a 3-minute spread.
Population density separates the two sharply: Miami packs 12,408 people per square mile, 3.6× Tampa’s 3,437, with Miami in the 99th percentile and Tampa in the 82nd. Median age also differs, with Miami at 39.7 years versus Tampa’s 35.6, a 4.1-year gap. Cost-of-living figures from 2023 show Miami’s index at 153, 14% above Tampa’s 134, while median home values are $475,200 in Miami and $375,300 in Tampa, a 27% difference. Both cities share an F grade for national disaster risk and similar air quality indexes of 48 and 50.
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 | Tampa, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| COL indexCost of living index (100 = US) | 15379th pctl | 13470th pctl | Cost of living index (100 = US): Miami, FL 153; Tampa, FL 134; Miami is 14% higher. |
| Home valueMedian home value | $475,20081st pctl | $375,30068th pctl | Median home value: Miami, FL $475,200; Tampa, FL $375,300; Miami is 27% higher. |
| Median rent | $1,65778th pctl | $1,56773rd pctl | Median rent: Miami, FL $1,657; Tampa, FL $1,567; Miami is 6% higher. |
| Household incomeMedian household income | $59,39029th pctl | $71,30248th pctl | Median household income: Miami, FL $59,390; Tampa, FL $71,302; Tampa is 20% higher. |
| Comfortable (single)Comfortable income (single) | $92,32382nd pctl | $72,91469th pctl | Comfortable income (single): Miami, FL $92,323; Tampa, FL $72,914; Miami is 27% higher. |
| Comfortable (family)Comfortable income (family of 4) | $135,71582nd pctl | $107,18469th pctl | Comfortable income (family of 4): Miami, FL $135,715; Tampa, FL $107,184; Miami is 27% higher. |
| AffordabilityHousing affordability | Unaffordable | Stretched | Housing affordability: Miami, FL D-; Tampa, FL C+; Tampa is graded higher. |
Housing-adjusted salary
the same housing budget in Tampa needs about
$65,700
Based only on local housing costs and incomes (cost-of-living index 153 vs 134). 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 | Tampa, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment | 2.4%5th pctl | 3.4%39th pctl | Unemployment: Miami, FL 2.4%; Tampa, FL 3.4%; Tampa is 1.0 points higher. |
| Job growthJob growth (YoY) | +1.9%74th pctl | +1.2%55th pctl | Job growth (YoY): Miami, FL +1.9%; Tampa, FL +1.2%; Miami is 0.7 points higher. |
| Per-capita income | $42,52863rd pctl | $49,51376th pctl | Per-capita income: Miami, FL $42,528; Tampa, FL $49,513; Tampa is 16% higher. |
| Poverty rate | 19.2%80th pctl | 15.9%70th pctl | Poverty rate: Miami, FL 19.2%; Tampa, FL 15.9%; Miami is 3.3 points higher. |
| CommuteAverage commute | 27.3 min75th pctl | 24.7 min59th pctl | Average commute: Miami, FL 27.3 min; Tampa, FL 24.7 min; Miami is 3 minutes longer. |
| Work from home | 14.2%67th pctl | 19.3%82nd pctl | Work from home: Miami, FL 14.2%; Tampa, FL 19.3%; Tampa is 5.1 points higher. |
| OpportunityEconomic opportunity | Stable | Stable | About the same |
| Job market | Strong | Strong | Job market: Miami, FL A+; Tampa, FL B+; Miami is graded higher. |
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year, BLS (2023).
Safety
| Metric | Miami, FL | Tampa, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimeViolent crime per 100k | 35872nd pctl | 31164th pctl | Violent crime per 100k: Miami, FL 358; Tampa, FL 311; Miami is 15% higher. |
| Property crimeProperty crime per 100k | 2,24382nd pctl | 96731st pctl | Property crime per 100k: Miami, FL 2,243; Tampa, FL 967; Miami is 2.3 times higher. |
| 5-yr trendViolent crime, 5-yr trend | Rising | Falling | |
| Crime & safety | Fair | Safe | Crime & safety: Miami, FL C-; Tampa, FL B-; Tampa is graded higher. |
| Traffic safety | SafeCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | FairCounty figure. County-level figure: measured for the surrounding county. | Traffic safety: Miami, FL B-; Tampa, FL C-; Miami is graded higher. |
Data: FBI Crime Data, NHTSA FARS (2025).
Quality of life
| Metric | Miami, FL | Tampa, 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 | Clean | Clean | 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; walkability isn't available for Tampa, 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 | Miami, FL | Tampa, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Large cityNearest large city | 1 mi2nd pctl | 0 mi1st pctl | Nearest large city: Miami, FL 1 mi; Tampa, FL 0 mi; Miami is 14.0 times higher. |
| Target proximity | Weak | Poor | Target proximity: Miami, FL D+; Tampa, FL F; Miami is graded higher. |
| To borderDistance to international border | 1,074 mi96th pctl | 928 mi94th pctl | Distance to international border: Miami, FL 1,074 mi; Tampa, FL 928 mi; Miami is 16% higher. |
| To coastDistance to coastline | 1 mi2nd pctl | 0 mi0th pctl | Distance to coastline: Miami, FL 1 mi; Tampa, FL 0 mi; Miami is 13.0 times higher. |
| StrategicStrategic location | High Risk | High Risk | About the same |
Data: ReloMaps strategic assessment.
People
| Metric | Miami, FL | Tampa, FL | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 446,66398th pctl | 393,38998th pctl | Population: Miami, FL 446,663; Tampa, FL 393,389; Miami is 14% larger. |
| DensityPopulation density (per sq mi) | 12,40899th pctl | 3,43782nd pctl | Population density (per sq mi): Miami, FL 12,408; Tampa, FL 3,437; Miami is 3.6 times higher. |
| Median age | 39.763rd pctl | 35.630th pctl | Median age: Miami, FL 39.7; Tampa, FL 35.6; Miami is 4.1 years older. |
| Bachelor's+Bachelor's degree or higher | 35.6%58th pctl | 44.6%73rd pctl | Bachelor's degree or higher: Miami, FL 35.6%; Tampa, FL 44.6%; Tampa is 9.0 points higher. |
| Household sizeAverage household size | 2.331st pctl | 2.438th pctl | About the same |
More about Miami's residents · Tampa's residents
Data: U.S. Census ACS 5-year (2023).
Politics
Information only. Not part of any grade, difference or summary on this page.
Moving between Miami and Tampa
- Median rent: $1,657 in Miami, $1,567 in Tampa
- Median home value: $475,200 in Miami, $375,300 in Tampa
- Cost of living index (100 = US): 153 in Miami, 134 in Tampa
- Median household income: $59,390 in Miami, $71,302 in Tampa
- Comfortable income (family of 4): $135,715 in Miami, $107,184 in Tampa
- Unemployment: 2.4% in Miami, 3.4% in Tampa
- Average commute: 27.3 min in Miami, 24.7 min in Tampa
- Violent crime per 100k: 358 in Miami, 311 in Tampa
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More places like Miami and Tampa
- 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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