Living in Miami, FL

Crime rates in Miami are a touch above the national midpoint. The violent crime index comes in at 101 and property crime at 107, where 100 represents the U.S. average. That's not alarming, but it's enough that you should spend real time researching specific neighborhoods rather than assuming everywhere is equally fine. Talk to people who live there, walk the streets at different hours, and check the local police department's crime map. FBI UCR data.

Housing takes a real bite out of paychecks in Miami. At $1,657/month median rent and $59,390/year median household income, the rent-to-income ratio is 33.5%. That's past the 30% threshold that most experts flag as the upper limit of comfortable spending on housing. Dual incomes help. So does looking at neighborhoods outside the trendy core. But if you're moving from a cheaper market, prepare for sticker shock. Census ACS 2023.

The average commute in Miami runs 23 minutes, which is moderate. 61.7% of commuters drive solo, contributing to peak-hour congestion. 6.9% use transit, and 14.2% work from home. Rush hour on major corridors will add 10-15 minutes on top of the average, so plan your route before you pick a neighborhood.

Miami faces a moderate level of climate risk — score of 48/100. The top threats are Hurricane, Flood, and Heat Wave. None of these hit every year, but they're real possibilities that affect insurance rates and emergency planning. Make sure your policy covers the relevant perils, keep a basic emergency kit, and know your evacuation routes if you're in a flood-prone area. FEMA and NOAA data.

For most families, yes. Graduation rates run at 86.0% with a 17:1 student-teacher ratio, which is respectable. The best schools in Miami compete with any in the state, though weaker ones pull the city-wide average down. If schools drive your housing decision, focus on specific attendance zones — the right neighborhood makes all the difference.

About what you'd expect anywhere. The average monthly utility bill in Miami runs around $230 for electricity, gas, water, and sewer combined. The national average is $230, so you're right in line. Your actual bill depends on home size, insulation quality, and how much you run the AC or heater — but no surprises here.

Good, overall. The median AQI sits at 38, which falls within the EPA's "Good" category, and Miami logs 285 clean-air days annually. Ozone is the main pollutant. Occasional spikes happen — wildfire smoke, temperature inversions, or high-ozone days — but they're the exception, not the rule. Check AirNow.gov during allergy season or summer heat waves.

Not bad. Miami's combined effective tax rate is around 7.9% when you factor in income, property, and sales taxes. The sales tax rate is 7.0%. You're not in a tax haven, but you're not in a high-tax state either. If you're comparing this to somewhere like New York or California, you'll notice the difference in your take-home pay.

Yes. Miami's water system scores 85/100 in our analysis — zero health-based violations on record, and the lead risk rating is "low." It meets or exceeds all EPA standards. You can fill a glass from the faucet without thinking twice. A basic pitcher filter can improve taste if you're particular, but it's not a safety concern.

Everything on this page is built from public government sources: rent and income figures from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023); commute and transportation data from Census ACS tables B08303 and B08006; crime rates from the FBI Uniform Crime Report; climate risk assessments using FEMA disaster declarations and NOAA storm records; air quality measurements from the EPA's Air Quality System database; water quality compliance data from EPA records and the EWG Tap Water Database; school data from the National Center for Education Statistics; utility cost estimates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. We refresh each dataset monthly through an automated pipeline and cross-check for anomalies. No surveys, no user-submitted guesses — just official federal data presented in a way that's actually useful for people researching a move.