Fort Lauderdale FL vs Roswell GA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026
Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Florida · Population: 183,032
- Median HH Income$79,935
- Median Home Price$510,297
- Unemployment5.3%
- Bachelor's+39.8%
Roswell, GA
Georgia · Population: 92,577
- Median HH Income$124,422
- Median Home Price$662,209
- Unemployment4.3%
- Bachelor's+64.8%
Detailed Comparison
Demographics
Population
Fort Lauderdale
183,032
Fort Lauderdale +
Roswell
92,577
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Fort Lauderdale
N/A
Roswell
N/A
Median Age
Fort Lauderdale
42.9
Roswell
40.0
Roswell +
Foreign Born
Fort Lauderdale
26.7%
Fort Lauderdale +
Roswell
18.7%
White
Fort Lauderdale
51.3%
Roswell
65.0%
Roswell +
Black
Fort Lauderdale
28.8%
Fort Lauderdale +
Roswell
11.1%
Asian
Fort Lauderdale
1.6%
Roswell
4.5%
Roswell +
Hispanic
Fort Lauderdale
20.1%
Fort Lauderdale +
Roswell
16.8%
Spanish at Home
Fort Lauderdale
N/A
Roswell
N/A
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Roswell, GA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 183,032 | 92,577 | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Pop. Density / sq miLower = more space | N/A | N/A | - |
| Median Age | 42.9 | 40.0 | Roswell + |
| Foreign Born | 26.7% | 18.7% | Fort Lauderdale + |
| White | 51.3% | 65.0% | Roswell + |
| Black | 28.8% | 11.1% | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Asian | 1.6% | 4.5% | Roswell + |
| Hispanic | 20.1% | 16.8% | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Spanish at Home | N/A | N/A | - |
Economy
Median HH Income
Fort Lauderdale
$79,935
Roswell
$124,422
Roswell +
Per Capita Income
Fort Lauderdale
$57,845
Roswell
$65,454
Roswell +
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Fort Lauderdale
$65,328
Fort Lauderdale +
Roswell
$57,405
Unemployment Rate
Fort Lauderdale
5.3%
Roswell
4.3%
Roswell +
Poverty Rate
Fort Lauderdale
15.2%
Roswell
7.4%
Roswell +
Bachelor's Degree+
Fort Lauderdale
39.8%
Roswell
64.8%
Roswell +
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Roswell, GA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median HH Income | $79,935 | $124,422 | Roswell + |
| Per Capita Income | $57,845 | $65,454 | Roswell + |
| Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)BEA MSA-level | $65,328 | $57,405 | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3% | 4.3% | Roswell + |
| Poverty Rate | 15.2% | 7.4% | Roswell + |
| Bachelor's Degree+ | 39.8% | 64.8% | Roswell + |
Housing
Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Fort Lauderdale
$510,297
Fort Lauderdale +
Roswell
$662,209
Homeownership Rate
Fort Lauderdale
53.8%
Roswell
71.2%
Roswell +
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Roswell, GA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home ValueZillow ZHVI / Census ACS | $510,297 | $662,209 | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Homeownership Rate | 53.8% | 71.2% | Roswell + |
Safety
Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Fort Lauderdale
324
Fort Lauderdale +
Roswell
392
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Fort Lauderdale
1453
Fort Lauderdale +
Roswell
1752
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Roswell, GA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 324 | 392 | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Property Crime / 100KFBI CDE (state-level est.) | 1453 | 1752 | Fort Lauderdale + |
Health
Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Fort Lauderdale
30.3%
Roswell
24.6%
Roswell +
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Fort Lauderdale
12.8%
Roswell
9.1%
Roswell +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Fort Lauderdale
16.2%
Roswell
13.8%
Roswell +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Fort Lauderdale
14.7%
Roswell
9.9%
Roswell +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Fort Lauderdale
14.9%
Fort Lauderdale +
Roswell
17.4%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Fort Lauderdale
13.0%
Roswell
8.3%
Roswell +
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Roswell, GA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obesity RateCDC PLACES | 30.3% | 24.6% | Roswell + |
| Diabetes RateCDC PLACES | 12.8% | 9.1% | Roswell + |
| Poor Mental HealthCDC PLACES — 14+ days/month | 16.2% | 13.8% | Roswell + |
| No Health InsuranceCDC PLACES | 14.7% | 9.9% | Roswell + |
| Binge DrinkingCDC PLACES | 14.9% | 17.4% | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Current SmokersCDC PLACES | 13.0% | 8.3% | Roswell + |
Climate
Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Fort Lauderdale
75.5°F
Roswell
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Fort Lauderdale
66.5 in
Roswell
N/A
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Roswell, GA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Annual TempNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 75.5°F | N/A | - |
| Annual PrecipitationNOAA 1991–2020 normal | 66.5 in | N/A | - |
Air Quality
PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Fort Lauderdale
7.2 µg/m³
Fort Lauderdale +
Roswell
9.8 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Fort Lauderdale
75.0%
Fort Lauderdale +
Roswell
55.0%
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Roswell, GA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 Annual AvgEPA AQS (state-level est.) | 7.2 µg/m³ | 9.8 µg/m³ | Fort Lauderdale + |
| Good Air DaysAQI ≤ 50 | 75.0% | 55.0% | Fort Lauderdale + |
Commute
Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Fort Lauderdale
28.5 min
Fort Lauderdale +
Roswell
29.6 min
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Roswell, GA | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Commute TimeCensus ACS | 28.5 min | 29.6 min | Fort Lauderdale + |
Which City is Right for You?
Roswell leads in median household income at $124,422, while fort Lauderdale offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $510,297. On public safety, Fort Lauderdale is safer with a violent crime rate of 324 per 100,000 residents, compared to 392 in Roswell. Roswell has a lower unemployment rate at 4.3%, and Fort Lauderdale has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Roswell scores better with a lower obesity rate of 24.6%.
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