What it's like to live in North Miami
North Miami is a smaller city in Florida with unemployment below the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. North Miami deals with rent well above the national average, household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, and commute times longer than most cities.
The good
- Low unemployment
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Above-average commute times
- Air quality concerns
- High student-teacher ratio
How North Miami compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to North Miami
Based on North Miami's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,404
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $68,080 a year
- 66% of North Miami renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$73,000
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $36,500
- Homes cost 6.4× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 20% above US
$1,702/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,702 a month median. That premium adds up quickly for renters whose income hasn't kept pace with local prices. Home prices run above average, with a median around $365,000. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $365,000 · 66% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 28% below US
3.1% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.1%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 88% above US
749 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 2843/100k · North Miami Police Department · 2022 data
Getting around▲ 22% above US
32 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 31.8 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; 7% take public transit; 9% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are hot and humid, with highs regularly hitting 89°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▼ 30% below US
25% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 25%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
17 public schools inside the boundary
There are 17 public schools inside the boundary and 10 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 20:1, slightly above the national average of 16:1.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Biscayne National Park (28 miles away). There are 3 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
North Miami's strongest point is unemployment below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and household incomes below the national average. A year of median rent ($1,702/mo) equals 36% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers.
Other places near North Miami
All Florida guides →Moving to North Miami Beach →
2 mi away · pop. 43,898
Rent $1,750/mo · Income $63,280
Compare with North Miami →Moving to Miami Shores →
2 mi away · pop. 11,752
Rent $2,657/mo · Income $144,050
Compare with North Miami →Moving to Pinewood →
4 mi away · pop. 18,114
Rent $1,532/mo · Income $59,410
Compare with North Miami →Not sure North Miami is the one?
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