1st Advantage MortgageIn Miami-Dade County, Florida, the typical household earns $71,753 a year and the typical rent is $1,829. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- Miami-Dade County by the numbers
- What Miami-Dade County households earn
- Employment and commuting in Miami-Dade County
- Renting and owning in Miami-Dade County
- Places inside Miami-Dade County
- The counties around Miami-Dade County
- What a median Miami-Dade County budget can carry
- Miami-Dade County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Local borrowing considerations for Miami-Dade County
- Steps before you apply in Miami-Dade County
- Checking a lender's license in Florida
- More guides for Miami-Dade County
- Frequently asked questions
Miami-Dade County by the numbers
With an estimated 2,738,356 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Miami-Dade County ranks 1st of 67 in Florida for population. Land area is 1,900 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 1,441 per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 69 places in the county (34 incorporated, 35 census-designated); the largest is Miami, with about 459,745 residents, or 17% of the county.
What Miami-Dade County households earn
At $71,753, the typical Miami-Dade County household income is 9% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 28th of 67.
| Band | Miami-Dade County | Compared with Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 25.4% | +3.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.0% | -2.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.0% | -1.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.6% | +0.6 pts |
The spread is wide: 36% of Miami-Dade County households make $100,000 or more, and 25% make less than $35,000. Census counts 14.7% of Miami-Dade County residents in poverty, against 12.6% across Florida. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.513 here. For a borrower in Miami-Dade County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
Employment and commuting in Miami-Dade County
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Miami-Dade County residents work in education and health care and 14% in professional and administrative services. Transportation, warehousing and utilities stands out: 9% of workers here, versus 6% statewide. Averaged over the five survey years, 4.6% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are common here: 23% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry | Share of Miami-Dade County workers | vs Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.7% | -0.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 14.3% | +0.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.4% | -1.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.8% | -1.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.0% | +2.6 pts |
| Construction | 8.8% | +0.6 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Renting and owning in Miami-Dade County
A typical Miami-Dade County rental runs $1,829 a month including utilities, which is 10% above Florida. 64% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 35% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $463,000, about 6.5 times the median household income. 52% of Miami-Dade County households own their home and 48% rent. The median year built is 1980.
| Housing | Miami-Dade County | Florida statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,829/mo | $1,669/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $463,000 | $359,000 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 52% | 68% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 64% | 60% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 45% | 35% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.3% | 8.0% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 11% | 15% | n/a |
Renters cannot borrow against a house, which narrows the choice to unsecured loans, cards and help from creditors; compare total cost, not just the payment. Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Places inside Miami-Dade County
The table lists the 14 largest of 69 Census places in Miami-Dade County, by population. Together all 69 hold about 2,483,711 people, so roughly 9% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $250,001 at the median in Fisher Island, $7,969 in Homestead Base. Rent is cheapest in Westview ($1,103) and steepest in Key Biscayne ($3,501). 4 of them have a separate city guide (linked). For the rest, this is the local guide.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | city | 459,745 | $62,462 | $1,758 | 21 mi |
| Hialeah | city | 226,165 | $55,594 | $1,689 | 22 mi |
| Miami Gardens | city | 113,177 | $63,627 | $1,787 | 28 mi |
| Homestead | city | 82,807 | $65,423 | $1,674 | 11 mi |
| Miami Beach | city | 82,031 | $72,856 | $1,826 | 26 mi |
| Kendall | CDP | 79,562 | $87,325 | $1,905 | 10 mi |
| Doral | city | 79,216 | $94,164 | $2,669 | 17 mi |
| North Miami | city | 60,344 | $57,188 | $1,702 | 29 mi |
| The Hammocks | CDP | 58,838 | $85,628 | $2,187 | 5 mi |
| Fountainebleau | CDP | 55,665 | $64,908 | $2,094 | 15 mi |
| Kendale Lakes | CDP | 52,622 | $71,621 | $1,968 | 9 mi |
| Westchester | CDP | 52,032 | $72,262 | $1,819 | 13 mi |
| Country Club | CDP | 51,296 | $75,212 | $1,899 | 25 mi |
| Coral Gables | city | 49,802 | $134,216 | $2,373 | 16 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
The counties around Miami-Dade County
Monroe County is closest, 32 miles from center to center; the sixth, Martin County, is 102 miles off. Income ranges from $56,393 in Hendry County to $90,045 in Collier County; 5 of these neighbors top Miami-Dade County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Dade County | - | $71,753 | $1,829/mo | 52% |
| Monroe County, FL | 32 mi | $87,738 | $1,999/mo | 66% |
| Broward County, FL | 40 mi | $77,633 | $1,907/mo | 64% |
| Collier County, FL | 66 mi | $90,045 | $1,862/mo | 77% |
| Palm Beach County, FL | 71 mi | $83,581 | $1,916/mo | 70% |
| Hendry County, FL | 75 mi | $56,393 | $1,003/mo | 74% |
| Martin County, FL | 102 mi | $82,943 | $1,569/mo | 80% |
What a median Miami-Dade County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Miami-Dade County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Miami-Dade County: $5,979
- 31% goes to median rent ($1,829)
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $324 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Miami-Dade County residents: age, schooling, coverage
34% of Miami-Dade County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 13.6%, against 11.5% for Florida.
| Indicator | Miami-Dade County | All of Florida | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.7 | 42.6 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 34.4% | 34.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 16.1% | 10.1% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 13.6% | 11.5% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.8% | 6.0% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 14.0% | 15.7% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.7% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.6% | 4.8% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Miami-Dade County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 14.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 34.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 28.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.2% |
| 60+ min | 11.4% |
Local borrowing considerations for Miami-Dade County
Where the Miami-Dade County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Medical bills. 14% of Miami-Dade County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Commuter costs. 23% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Renters under pressure. When 64% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Steps before you apply in Miami-Dade County
A short checklist for Miami-Dade County borrowers:
- Price the Miami-Dade County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Checking a lender's license in Florida
Before sharing details with a lender, a Miami-Dade County resident can confirm its license with the Florida Office of Financial Regulation. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Florida: Florida personal loans.
More guides for Miami-Dade County
More local guides:
Frequently asked questions
Is Miami-Dade County a high-income county?
Its $71,753 median ranks 28th of 67 Florida counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Miami-Dade County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,829 a month; 64% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the Miami-Dade County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 69 Census places: Miami, Hialeah, Miami Gardens, Homestead, Miami Beach.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Miami-Dade County or elsewhere in Florida, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Miami-Dade County residents?
The Florida Office of Financial Regulation licenses consumer lenders in Florida; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.