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Living in
Sweetwater.
About
Life in Sweetwater
Sweetwater offers an affordable slice of Miami-Dade County living without the intensity of the city itself—your median home value sits around $294,000 and rent averages $1,771 monthly, which is genuinely reasonable for the area. Cost of living is moderate, and the median household income of $55,154 means most families here are making it work without the financial squeeze of nearby urban centers, though it's worth noting the population has declined slightly over recent years, suggesting some people move on for bigger opportunities. You're trading year-round heat and humidity for easy access to serious outdoor recreation—Biscayne National Park is 23 miles away, the Everglades 42 miles, and Big Cypress another 15 minutes beyond that—so weekend adventures are genuinely within reach if you're into water sports, hiking, or just escaping into nature.
Sweetwater at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
43.8 yrs
Poverty Rate
16.3%
Foreign-Born
74.8%
Broadband Internet
90.1%
of households
Population Growth
+7.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics74.8% foreign-born, most often from Cuba
Who lives in Sweetwater: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Sweetwater, the largest foreign-born group is from Cuba (58.6%), and 93.8% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
17.2%
of residents
65 and Older
16.8%
of residents
Households with Kids
32.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
17.6%
of households
Married Couples
44.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.98
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 6% above FL average
Rent, home values, and income in Sweetwater
In Sweetwater, rent runs 6% above the FL average, and home values are 18% below the FL average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
58.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
114.2
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$1,865
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
42.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1981
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $446,937 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.2 pts below FL average
Unemployment in Sweetwater and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Miami-Dade County, which includes Sweetwater, is 1.2 percentage points lower than the FL average.
Unemployment rate
Sweetwater: Miami-Dade County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Miami-Dade County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Sweetwater is less than 1% of Miami-Dade County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Sweetwater Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro area
Commute29 min avg
How Sweetwater residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Sweetwater, most residents drive alone to work (81%), and 54% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Miami International Airport (MIA)
Major hub26.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 36% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Sweetwater runs 36% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
210.3
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,883.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Sweetwater Police Department
Natural DisastersFlood most common — 30 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Very High
99.6 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Miami-Dade County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Miami-Dade County, which includes Sweetwater, the most common type is flood, with 30 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 30 | Flood | $229,000 |
| 2024 | 28 | Flood | $3.9M |
| 2023 | 40 | Flood | $170,000 |
| 2022 | 30 | Flash Flood | $19,000 |
| 2021 | 25 | Flood | $1.5M |
| 2020 | 37 | Flood | $67,000 |
| 2019 | 41 | Flood | $355,000 |
| 2018 | 21 | Funnel Cloud | $21,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Miami-Dade County, county-wide
Sweetwater is less than 1% of Miami-Dade County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality47 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Miami-Dade County, which includes Sweetwater, is typically good — 206 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
47
Good Days
206
per year
Moderate Days
158
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Miami-Dade County, county-wide
Sweetwater is less than 1% of Miami-Dade County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate91°F summers, 60°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Sweetwater has hot summers (avg high 91°F) and warm winters (avg low 60°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
84°/67°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
91°/76°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
86°/72°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
78°/60°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
69.7"
Annual Snowfall
0.0"
Hot Days/Year
93
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
0
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
146
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 77°F | 59°F | 2.03" |
| Feb | 78°F | 61°F | 2.20" |
| Mar | 81°F | 63°F | 2.27" |
| Apr | 85°F | 67°F | 3.43" |
| May | 87°F | 71°F | 6.44" |
| Jun | 90°F | 75°F | 10.39" |
| Jul | 91°F | 76°F | 8.65" |
| Aug | 91°F | 76°F | 10.84" |
| Sep | 90°F | 76°F | 9.32" |
| Oct | 87°F | 73°F | 8.38" |
| Nov | 82°F | 66°F | 3.40" |
| Dec | 78°F | 62°F | 2.39" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Sweetwater
Uninsured
16.3%
of residents
No hospitals inside Sweetwater's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
HCA Florida Kendall Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.6 mi away · Miami
Keralty Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5 mi away · Miami
Nicklaus Children's Hospital
Childrens · ER available · 6.4 mi away · Miami
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Sweetwater
Sweetwater's student/teacher ratio is 15.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 21.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
1
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
21.4%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Sweetwater (within 15 miles)
Florida International University
2 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 39,508 students · in-state tuition $6,565 · 74% graduate · median earnings $65,722 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 12,913 students · in-state tuition $65,430 · 84% graduate · median earnings $84,093 (10 yrs after entry)
Florida National University-Main Campus
6.8 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 2-year · 2,449 students · in-state tuition $17,368 · 35% graduate · median earnings $38,806 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,214 students · in-state tuition $35,780 · 49% graduate · median earnings $58,912 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,212 students · in-state tuition $35,600 · 44% graduate · median earnings $64,837 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,183 students · in-state tuition $20,174 · 35% graduate · median earnings $40,290 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Biscayne National Park, 23 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Sweetwater
Sweetwater has 3 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Biscayne National Park (23 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Biscayne National Park
National Park
23 mi awayEverglades National Park
National Park
42 mi awayBig Cypress National Preserve
National Preserve
45 mi awayCities Near Sweetwater
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Sweetwater?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Sweetwater FAQ
Is Sweetwater, Florida affordable?⌄
Sweetwater's median rent is $1,771/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $54,967/year. Median home value is $294,200.
Is Sweetwater, Florida safe?⌄
Sweetwater's violent crime rate was 210 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1883 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Sweetwater, Florida?⌄
Miami-Dade County, which includes Sweetwater, has an unemployment rate of 2.7%, which is strong — well below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Sweetwater, Florida?⌄
The cost of living in Sweetwater is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,771/month and median household income is $54,967/year. The median home value is $294,200. About 58% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Sweetwater, Florida?⌄
The average commute in Sweetwater is 29 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from