What it's like to live in Miami Lakes
Miami Lakes is a small city in Florida with unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Miami Lakes deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, and air quality that falls short of national benchmarks.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Highly educated workforce
- Growing population
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Above-average commute times
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
- Hot summers
How Miami Lakes compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Miami Lakes
Based on Miami Lakes's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$4,240
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $84,800 a year
- 44% of Miami Lakes renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$125,280
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $62,640
- Homes cost 6.2× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 50% above US
$2,120/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,120 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $626,400. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $626,400 · 44% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 44% below US
2.4% unemployment
Unemployment here is 2.4%, well below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 87% below US
41 violent crimes per 100k
Safety is genuinely one of the selling points here. Both violent and property crime run well below the national average, the kind of numbers that fade into the background after a week of living somewhere.
Property crime 783/100k · Miami Lakes Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 27% above US
33 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 32.9 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. 9 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 91°F, and winters are mild, with lows rarely dropping below 61°F. It's a wet climate overall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 21% above US
44% bachelor's degree or higher
The population is well-educated, with 44% holding college degrees. That points to a strong professional base and generally a healthy local economy.
Schools
6 public schools inside the boundary
There are 6 public schools inside the boundary and 9 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 23:1, above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Biscayne National Park (30 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Miami Lakes's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($2,120/mo) equals 25% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers, anyone prioritizing low crime, and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget, people who dread long commutes, and anyone who doesn't drive.
Other places near Miami Lakes
All Florida guides →Moving to Country Club →
2 mi away · pop. 51,296
Rent $1,899/mo · Income $75,212
Compare with Miami Lakes →Moving to Hialeah Gardens →
3 mi away · pop. 22,915
Rent $1,946/mo · Income $65,439
Compare with Miami Lakes →Moving to Hialeah →
3 mi away · pop. 226,165
Rent $1,689/mo · Income $55,594
Compare with Miami Lakes →Moving to Opa-locka →
4 mi away · pop. 16,282
Rent $1,351/mo · Income $37,532
Compare with Miami Lakes →Not sure Miami Lakes is the one?
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