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Moving to Coral Gables: What to Know About the City

Coral Gables Relocating Guide

Home to the biggest private research university in the country, Coral Gables could be the next city you live in! This is our Coral Gables relocation guide. We’re going to take you through the geography of the area, how it was incorporated, what kind of education you can expect, the economic status, the dynamic history, and lots of other things.

Read: Check out our real estate guide on Hialeah, FL too.

Coral Gables At a Glance

Located in Miami-Dade County, Coral Gables is an incorporated city just 7 miles from Downtown Miami. The city surely has its distinct look, primarily influenced by Spanish and Mediterranean art and culture.

The city was incorporated in 1925, as part of the City Beautiful movement. If you’re not up to date on your history lessons, the City Beautiful movement was an architectural reform movement to make cities more beautiful. Needless to say, Coral Gables is the staple of the movement as it still retains the same beauty from that time.

George Merrick, the founder of the city is often credited as the visionary behind the city. He was a real estate developer based in Pennsylvania. He focused on strict zoning of the districts, making the beautiful and smart layout of the city you can witness now.

As a form of showing respect, the original Merrick house is still there. In fact, you can visit there on a lazy weekend to see a live example of 1920s architecture. Historically, Coral Gables has been one of the most affluent cities in the country, a trend that’s true to this day!

Population and Geography

According to the Coral Gables city website, there are just over 50,000 residents in the city. It aligns with the 2020 census by the US Census Bureau. The 37.2 square miles of the area is quite big compared to some other cities in Miami-Dade County.

More than half the population is Latino or Hispanic, a common trend among Florida cities. The next big chunk of ethnicity is White, taking up around 31% of the total population.

If there is something you want to complain about, it’s the climate and weather pattern. The area mostly sees summer with relatively high temperatures. Being so close to the ocean, it’s the humidity that you should be aware of.

Mid-May to mid-October is the hottest time of the year when temperatures can reach up to 90 degrees! There is no literal “winter” in this part of Florida. It’s simply because the temperature barely goes below 70 degrees. But, it’s surely comfortable during the winter season.

From what we can tell, if you don’t mind the humidity during the summer and you thrive on economic development, Coral Gables is the perfect choice for your next housing relocation.

Why, you ask? Well, you’ll have to read our take on the city’s economy in the next section.

What’s Coral Gables’s Economy Like?

We’ve already spilled the beans on the fact that Coral Gables is economically very sound. In fact, it’s one of the most affluent neighborhoods in all of America! The median household income in this city is a whopping $100,843. It’s almost double the national average of $51, 347.

Coral Gables is also the only city in Miami-Dade County and one of the 3 cities in Florida to have 3 AAA bond ratings. And the ratings are from Fitch Ratings, Standard and Poor, and Moody. The city’s smart management of fiscal matters and engagement in international business have earned it this rare achievement.

If you plan on opening up a new business after moving to Coral Gables, you’d be glad to know that the city’s often credited as the “Corporate Capital of the Americas”. It’s Americas because the city works as the perfect gateway to Latin America!

Go Verizon recently named Coral Gables as the 3rd best small city to start a small business. You may already know that there is no state income tax in Florida. When you pair it up with the amazing depiction of business-friendliness, Coral Gables surely sounds like a fascinating choice.

The current unemployment rate is 5.2% which is slightly below the national average of 6%. The sales tax, however, is 7% which is a bit higher than the national average of 6.2%. Can’t expect to win on all fronts, can you?

The largest employer in the city is the University of Miami. It has a staff count of over 16,000! Apart from that Miami International Airport and Port Miami also employ thousands of people. The rest of the industry is occupied by:

Quality of Education in Coral Gables

Education is a major factor when you’re considering a new city or state to live in. Considering the sustained success rate of the residents, we have a feeling that the schools in Coral Gables are some of the best in the country!

There are 2 public schools both within and just outside the city skirts. Of course, we’re referring to the Coral Gables Senior High School and International Studies Preparatory Academy. The middle school options include George Washington Carver Middle School and Ponce de Leon Middle School.

Similarly, there are a bunch of elementary schools, K-8 schools, colleges, and universities across or outside the city. Let’s take a look at the list of top educations organizations in Coral Gables:

A few of the schools have gotten the Blue Ribbon from the US Department of Education. In case you’re not aware, this is the highest honor an educational institute can get from the government.

Everything considered you have nothing to worry about your children’s education as MDCPS is an A-rated school district and has over 94% graduation rate!

Things to Do in Coral Gables

Once you settle in the beautiful city of Coral Gables, you need some places for recreation. Some of these places will be a one-time visit while others have the potential to draw you over and over.

In this section, let’s go over the biggest attractions in Coral Gables city in Miami-Dade County.

Merrick House

Let’s start off with the founding father of the city. You already know who George Merrick is. The Merrick House is still standing with its 1920s retro look. The property is in surprisingly good condition. So much so that you can’t help but appreciate the team that upkeeps it.

The 1.3 acre of land is covered in lush greenery, an inspiration for the rest of Coral Gables. The guided tour of the property includes the 14 rooms, the grotto with over 10 types of fishes, the soothing lily pond, and the Heritage Garden.

There are 3 tours in a day, at 1 PM, 2 PM, and 3 PM. You can just walk in and buy the tickets, no reservation necessary.

The Venetian Pool

No matter what city or village in Miami-Dade County you’re looking at, the Venetian Pool is bound to come up as a must-see place. It’s located at 2701 Soto Boulevard, Coral Gables. The interesting thing about this pool is that it’s a natural body of water formed by the spring underground.

The pool can hold a whopping 820,000 gallons of water! There are 2 waterfalls and multiple caves where you can have some fun with your family or friends.

During the 1920s, the Venetian Pool was part of the Venetian Casino. It opened for public use in 1924. It was later a major part of George Merrick’s master plan. The limestone needed for the urban development was taken from the Quarry. The empty spot was later turned into the Venetian Pool.

Giralda Plaza

Located at 100 Block, Giralda Ave in Coral Gables, Giralda Plaza is home to numerous restaurants, bars, and art galleries. If you’re craving art parallel to coffee and pastry, there is no better destination than Giralda Plaza.

The Biltmore Hotel

This is another Coral Gables attraction that often makes it to other city descriptions in Miami-Dade County. This historic establishment is now a leisure sport with fine dining, a tennis court, a spa, a golf course, and a massive pool.

The humongous 150-acre property houses 271 rooms. Similar to the rest of Coral Gables, the Biltmore Hotel also boasts Spanish and Mediterranean architecture. You can also see a touch of Italian and Moorish cultures as well!

If you’re wondering what you can do in this place, the most cost-effective option is the guided tour. Or, you rent it out for business meetings. Or, go crazy with a spa day. It’s up to you.

Matheson Hammock Park and Marina

If you ask anyone whether they like hammocks or not, what do you think they’ll reply? Of course, it’s a big YES. If you’re one of them, Coral Gables has the perfect place for you. Matheson Hammock Park!

As the name suggests, you go to the park, rent a hammock and enjoy the bright sun. After all, you’re in the sunshine state! There is a full-service Marina, restaurant, and even a snack bar to keep your mid-day cravings in check.

The pools in the Marina might be artificial but the water is naturally flushed regularly by Biscayne Bay.

Art & Culture

The greater Miami-Dade County is known across the country for its rich history of art and culture. Just like all the other cities and villages, there is a very vibrant culture that exists in Coral Gables. For obvious reasons, a lot of these cultures are influenced by their Spanish, Italian, and most importantly, Mediterranean roots.

To be precise, the theater community in Coral Gables is very active. Some of the places you can witness this include:

Similarly, there is a massive market for local arts. There are plenty of boutique galleries where you can get your daily dosage of contemporary fine arts. Some places to visit would be:

And of course, what kind of city would Coral Gables be if there were no festivals to attend? Festivals have been a core mantra of Florida for as long as we can remember. The weather is also perfect throughout the year to host such festivals. Some of the notable ones are:

Top Places to Eat and Drink

If you’re anything like us, you like to eat out not only on occasion but also as part of a lifestyle. Thankfully, Coral Gables has more than enough options for you to choose from. From gourmet restaurants to fast food to bars, everything is fair game in this smart city in South Florida.

Top restaurants in the county include:

In case you’re looking for a good bar to unwind after work or a weekend hangout with friends, check the ones below:

Highways and Transportation

As part of the greater Miami Area, Coral Gables gets a Metrobus network throughout the city. There are 2 stations for the Miami Metrorail at Douglas Road and University.

There’s also a free trolley service that runs through the city. It’s a loop that goes up and down on Ponce de Leon Boulevard.

Of course, how can we forget the iconic US 1 highway? It goes through the city through the University of Miami and connects to Downtown Miami directly. In case you’re not aware, it’s the same highway that connects Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, New York, and Maine.

Political Status

Similar to most other cities in the US, Coral Gables has a Council-Manager government system. Vince Lago plays the role of the ceremonial mayor of the city. The person in charge of the day-to-day operations of the city council is Peter Iglesias, the city manager. He’s accompanied by city clerk Billy Y. Urquia. Local politics in the city is also very stable.

Stay in the Know

Keep updated with events and happenings in Dade County. We send occasional emails with helpful information for locals and tourists looking to explore Miami.

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