What it's like to live in Florida City
Florida City is a small city in Florida with county unemployment below the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Florida City deals with household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, long average commutes, and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks.
The good
- Low unemployment in the county
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Long commutes
- Air quality concerns
- Low college degree attainment
- High student-teacher ratio
How Florida City compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Florida City
Based on Florida City's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,724
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $54,480 a year
- 60% of Florida City renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$79,840
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $39,920
- Homes cost 8.4× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,362/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,362 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $399,200. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $399,200 · 60% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
2.7% county unemployment
Unemployment in Miami-Dade County is 2.7%, well below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Miami-Dade County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 374% above US
1561 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is a real factor here, with violent rates significantly above the national average. That doesn't make the whole city a write-off, but it does mean specific neighborhoods deserve real research before signing a lease.
Property crime 6730/100k · Florida City Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 40% above US
36 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 36.4 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 11% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 92°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 57°F. It's a wet climate overall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 69% below US
11% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a working-class city, and college degree rates reflect that. Trades, manufacturing, and service industries tend to dominate the local economy, which is a strength for some fields and a real constraint for others.
Schools
4 public schools inside the boundary
There are 4 public schools inside the boundary and 8 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 18:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Biscayne National Park (16 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Florida City's strongest point is county unemployment below the national average; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and crime rates above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,362/mo) equals 34% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers (county-wide unemployment is low). It may be a harder fit for people who dread long commutes.
Other places near Florida City
All Florida guides →Moving to Homestead →
2 mi away · pop. 82,807
Rent $1,674/mo · Income $65,423
Compare with Florida City →Moving to Leisure City →
4 mi away · pop. 27,808
Rent $1,723/mo · Income $41,977
Compare with Florida City →Moving to Naranja →
6 mi away · pop. 15,796
Rent $1,713/mo · Income $53,984
Compare with Florida City →Moving to Princeton →
8 mi away · pop. 42,625
Rent $1,647/mo · Income $83,426
Compare with Florida City →Not sure Florida City is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.