Miami Gardens FL vs Virginia Beach VA — Cost of Living, Crime & Income Comparison 2026

Updated May 2026 · Source: US Census ACS 5-Year (2023), FBI CDE (2023), BLS OEWS (2024)

Miami Gardens, FL

Florida · Population: 11,627

  • Median HH Income$137,873
  • Median Home Price$472,888
  • Unemployment6.5%
  • Bachelor's+64.7%

Virginia Beach, VA

Virginia · Population: 457,066

  • Median HH Income$90,685
  • Median Home Price$427,121
  • Unemployment4.3%
  • Bachelor's+40.4%

Detailed Comparison

Demographics

Population
Miami Gardens
11,627
Virginia Beach
457,066
Virginia Beach +
Pop. Density / sq mi
Lower = more space
Miami Gardens
N/A
Virginia Beach
N/A
Median Age
Miami Gardens
37.7
Virginia Beach
37.4
Virginia Beach +
Foreign Born
Miami Gardens
29.1%
Miami Gardens +
Virginia Beach
9.1%
White
Miami Gardens
52.5%
Virginia Beach
61.6%
Virginia Beach +
Black
Miami Gardens
15.3%
Virginia Beach
18.9%
Virginia Beach +
Asian
Miami Gardens
3.5%
Virginia Beach
7.2%
Virginia Beach +
Hispanic
Miami Gardens
34.0%
Miami Gardens +
Virginia Beach
8.9%
Spanish at Home
Miami Gardens
N/A
Virginia Beach
N/A

Economy

Median HH Income
Miami Gardens
$137,873
Miami Gardens +
Virginia Beach
$90,685
Per Capita Income
Miami Gardens
$57,003
Miami Gardens +
Virginia Beach
$47,372
Per Capita Personal Income (MSA)
BEA MSA-level
Miami Gardens
$65,328
Virginia Beach
$69,581
Virginia Beach +
Unemployment Rate
Miami Gardens
6.5%
Virginia Beach
4.3%
Virginia Beach +
Poverty Rate
Miami Gardens
7.9%
Miami Gardens +
Virginia Beach
8.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
Miami Gardens
64.7%
Miami Gardens +
Virginia Beach
40.4%

Housing

Median Home Value
Zillow ZHVI / Census ACS
Miami Gardens
$472,888
Virginia Beach
$427,121
Virginia Beach +
Homeownership Rate
Miami Gardens
86.7%
Miami Gardens +
Virginia Beach
64.9%

Safety

Violent Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Miami Gardens
324
Virginia Beach
240
Virginia Beach +
Property Crime / 100K
FBI CDE (state-level est.)
Miami Gardens
1453
Miami Gardens +
Virginia Beach
1726

Health

Obesity Rate
CDC PLACES
Miami Gardens
34.3%
Miami Gardens +
Virginia Beach
36.5%
Diabetes Rate
CDC PLACES
Miami Gardens
17.3%
Virginia Beach
11.8%
Virginia Beach +
Poor Mental Health
CDC PLACES — 14+ days/month
Miami Gardens
17.5%
Virginia Beach
16.7%
Virginia Beach +
No Health Insurance
CDC PLACES
Miami Gardens
22.4%
Virginia Beach
8.3%
Virginia Beach +
Binge Drinking
CDC PLACES
Miami Gardens
12.7%
Miami Gardens +
Virginia Beach
15.6%
Current Smokers
CDC PLACES
Miami Gardens
15.4%
Virginia Beach
12.1%
Virginia Beach +

Climate

Avg Annual Temp
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Miami Gardens
N/A
Virginia Beach
N/A
Annual Precipitation
NOAA 1991–2020 normal
Miami Gardens
N/A
Virginia Beach
N/A

Air Quality

PM2.5 Annual Avg
EPA AQS (state-level est.)
Miami Gardens
7.2 µg/m³
Miami Gardens +
Virginia Beach
8.2 µg/m³
Good Air Days
AQI ≤ 50
Miami Gardens
75.0%
Virginia Beach
75.0%
Tie

Commute

Mean Commute Time
Census ACS
Miami Gardens
29.2 min
Virginia Beach
25.0 min
Virginia Beach +

Which City is Right for You?

Miami Gardens leads in median household income at $137,873, while virginia Beach offers more affordable housing with a median home price of $427,121. On public safety, Virginia Beach is safer with a violent crime rate of 240 per 100,000 residents, compared to 324 in Miami Gardens. Virginia Beach has a lower unemployment rate at 4.3%, and Miami Gardens has cleaner air (PM2.5 avg 7.2 µg/m³). For overall health outcomes, Miami Gardens scores better with a lower obesity rate of 34.3%.

Compare More Cities

About Miami Gardens & Virginia Beach