If you’re a young professional who plays as hard as you work, you might be thinking about moving to
Miami. The unique dining, shopping, nightlife, and culture may be a huge draw, but if you want your hard earned money to go further it’s time to look to the suburbs.
That’s why we’ve created a list of the best places to live near Miami specifically for young professionals.
Let’s take a look at the 10 Miami suburbs that made the cut.
1. South Miami
Key Stats:
- Residents age 22-29: 13.7 percent
- Total amenities: 1,643
South Miami kicks off our list of the best Miami suburbs for young professionals with plenty of affordable modern condos and townhouses, perfect for first time home buyers.
This well-connected suburb is perfect for commuters who want to take the convenient Miami-Dade transit line to work downtown. Young professionals who like to play as hard as they work will love the unique local restaurants and bars, and shopping at The Shops at Sunset Place mall.
2. Miami Beach
Key Stats:
- Population age 22-29: 14 percent
- Total amenities: 8,035
Young professionals who want every weekend to feel like a beach vacation will love the lively city of Miami Beach. Condos in chic modern high rises are a common pick for young professionals.
Active residents enjoy strolling along beautiful beaches, swimming, or surfing. Arts and culture enthusiasts will love weekend visits to the Bass Museum of Art, while nature lovers get their fix at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden. Convenient shopping from big name retailers is available at the outdoor Lincoln Road Mall.
3. Fort Lauderdale
Key Stats:
- Total amenities: 24,294
- Median earnings of bachelor’s degree holders: $52,494
Fort Lauderdale may have earned the third place spot on our list of the best Miami suburbs for young professionals, but it’s also a thriving city in its own right. Home buyers can find chic modern condos and ranch style homes for a fraction of Miami prices.
With over 24,000 local amenities, young professionals will have no problem filling their weekends with delicious dining and lively nightlife. Convenient shopping is available at The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale, but residents also have their pick of trendy local boutiques.
4. Plantation
Key Stats:
- Total amenities: 5,542
- Unemployment rate: 8.3 percent
Young professionals who want a suburban vibe without sacrificing any amenities will love Plantation. Modern townhouses and condos are great picks for young professionals, while Mediterranean style homes give home buyers room to grow.
Hit the links and network at the local Jacaranda Golf Club, or enjoy a stroll through the well-maintained Plantation Central Park. Residents also enjoy convenient shopping at the Westfield-Broward Mall.
5. North Miami Beach
Key Stats:
- Cost of living: 103, compared to the Miami average of 110
- Residents age 22-29: 11.5 percent
Your hard earned money will go a whole lot further in the fifth suburb on our list, North Miami Beach. Young professionals will find plenty of chic modern condos and townhouses at affordable prices.
Enjoy a hike through the scenic Oleta River State Park, or plan a weekend camping trip at Greynolds Park. The Greynolds Golf Course is the perfect spot to hit the links and network.
6. Coral Gables
Key Stats:
- Residents with a bachelor’s degree: 30.6 percent
- Residents with professional occupations: 59.7 percent
Young professionals in Coral Gables get the best of both worlds in a laid back suburban environment just minutes away from the shopping, dining, and nightlife in downtown Miami. Modern condos and Mediterranean style homes are common housing options.
Enjoy boutique shopping and restaurants on the Miracle Mile in Downtown Coral Gables, or brand name retailers at the Village of Merrick Park open-air mall. The Biltmore Golf Course is the perfect spot to hit the links and network, while art enthusiasts can get their fix at the Lowe Art Museum at the University of Miami campus.
7. Davie
Key Stats:
- Total amenities: 5,147
- Residents age 22-29: 10.7 percent
Davie earns the seventh place spot on our list with a variety of housing options for young professional home buyers, including townhouses, contemporary style homes, and sprawling Mediterranean style houses with room to grow.
Active young professionals will love horseback riding, fishing, boating, and hiking at beautiful Tree Tops Park. Residents are just minutes from Miami and Fort Lauderdale, making it a perfect suburb for young professionals who commute to either city.
8. Doral (tie)
Key Stats:
- Residents with a bachelor’s degree: 36 percent
- Unemployment rate: 7 percent
With a population of just over 47,000, Doral provides a more laid-back suburban vibe. Chic condos and modern townhouses are great housing options for young professionals.
Residents enjoy convenient shopping from brand name retailers at the Miami International Mall, and scenic city parks like Doral Central Park. Network while you hit the links at the Costa Del Sol Golf Club.
8. North Miami (tie)
Key Stats:
- Cost of living: 103, compared to the Miami average of 110
- Residents age 22-29: 13.1 percent
The conveniently located suburb of North Miami is tied for eighth on our list, and boasts plenty of chic condos for young professional home buyers. Young professionals who commute to Miami for work are less than a twenty-minute drive from downtown.
Grab a bite to eat after work at North Miami’s numerous local restaurants and cafes, or enjoy local music and drinks at lounges and bars. Active young professionals will love hiking and jogging through the scenic 22-acre Elaine Gordon Park.
10. Hollywood
Key Stats:
- Total amenities: 10,845
- Cost of living: 104, compared to the Miami average of 110
The Oceanside city of Hollywood rounds out our list with plenty of amenities for young professionals to enjoy. Affordable modern condos and townhouses are more affordable here than in Miami.
Enjoy a hike through the scenic, peaceful Anne Kolb Nature Center, or hit the links and network at numerous local golf courses and country clubs. Hollywood has hundreds of restaurants and dozens of bars, and is just minutes away from Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
Our Methodology
To create this list of the best Miami suburbs for young professionals, we looked at the following criteria, using data from the
U.S. Census and
AreaVibes:
- Percent of residents age 22-29
- Percent of residents who attained a bachelor’s degree
- Median earnings for those who attained a bachelor’s degree
- Percent of residents who work in management, business, financial, or other professional fields
- Cost of living
Then, because some things are just a little more important to young professionals than others, we weighted the percent of residents age 22-29 and amenities per capita to make up 35 percent of our score. Professional opportunity made up 20 percent, and cost of living made up 10 percent.
We then averaged those weighted scores into one overall score, and the 10 lowest overall scores made the cut for this list.
Want to see how other Miami suburbs ranked? Check out the table below:
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