Miami-Dade County Relocating Guide

In case you’re looking for a state to retire, we know for a fact that Florida is one of the top ones on your list. Even if you’re not retiring but looking forward to relocating to the sunshine state, we’ve got you covered. On this journey, we’re going to go over the key elements regarding Miami-Dade, the most populous county in Florida. We plan on looking into the basics of demography, climate, economy, quality of education, recreation, and everything else that matters.

Miami-Dade At a Glance

Located in the southeastern region of Florida, Miami-Date is the 7^th most populous county in the United States. The history of human existence in this area goes back over 12,000 years! It’s proof enough that this location has been suitable for living since before modern civilization. Initially, civilization started developing near the bank of the Miami river, for obvious reasons. Miami’s first recorded name was Chequescha or Tequesta. In the mid-1500s, European settlers started coming in and contacted the native Americans living in that area. About 300 years later, in 1836, Miami-Dade was incorporated under the Territorial Act of the United States. The name is inspired from Francis L. Dade who was killed in the Second Seminole War. When the county was first incorporated, it got the lands on Palm Beach and Broward counties as well as the Bahia Honda Key and the Florida Keys. While the county seat used to be at India Key, it was later moved to Miami in 1844. And yes, the county was only known as Dade at that time. Much later in 1997, the voters changed the name of the county to Miami-Dade.

Population and Geography

With an area of 2,431 square miles, the county houses more than 2.7 million people, according to the census conducted in 2020. Among them, around 1.43 million are registered voters. The area is only 12 feet high from sea level. In this case, the reference point is the Atlantic Ocean. For the entire population, there are more than 1 million registered housing units. So, there is no shortage of properties to buy if you’re thinking about relocating to Miami-Dade. Interestingly, the region is not directly connected to the Atlantic Ocean. Rather, it’s separated by many barrier islands including Miami Beach, South Beach, and the Art Deco district.

What’s Miami’s Economy Like?

When you’re concerned about relocating to a new state, it’s only normal to consider the overall economic situation of the area. It influences the security and quality of life for the residents in more ways than meets the eye. Thankfully, Miami-Dade has a very steady economy with a mean median household income of $46,338. Miami-Dade is also the economic center of South Florida. The county consists of 34 incorporated municipalities, towns, cities, and villages. And of course, there are plenty of unincorporated counterparts to these social instruments too. The most amazing aspect of relocating to Miami-Dade is that there is no income tax! It’s huge because the income tax rate is directly impactful on your cost of living. Compared to the US average income tax rate of 4.6%, Miami-Dade is surely a heaven for newcomers! The job market in this general area has increased more than 0.8% in the last year which is indicative of an improving economy. Almost all kinds of job market you can think of exist in the county. Some of the most mention-worthy ones are:

• Agriculture
• Forestry
• Hunting
• Fishing
• Manufacturing
• Construction
• Retail Trade
• Wholesale Trade
• Finance and Insurance
• Technical services
• Public Administration

Quality of Education in Miami-Dade

Educated people can make a place on earth feel like heaven. And it all starts early, through school. If you’re planning on relocating to Miami-Dade from anywhere else in the US with your family, the school system should surely play a major role in your decision. And if your kids are through school, you might want to take it as an advantage and move to Florida. In that case, you’ll be interested more in the college options. Thankfully, Miami-Dade delivers on both fronts. However, it’s been a recent development. If we trace our steps back about 15 years, Miami-Dade surely comes across as a struggling school district. The poverty rate was high in the general area and it directly affected the development of education. The dropout rates were high and the academic performance was poor across the board. Amidst this chaos, Alberto Carvalho took over as the Superintendent of the Miami-Dade County public schools. He formed the Education Transformation Office (ETO) with a goal to support 19 of the failing schools. He really went into those school systems to figure out the problems and wrinkle them out one by one. Within the next 2 years, a huge majority of the faculties and staff from management were changed. The idea was to bring in a new perspective. Fast forward to today, Miami-Dade is one of the top performing school districts in Florida. There are 228 preschools, 303 elementary schools, 231 middle schools, and 128 high schools. If the numbers look high to you, don’t forget the population of over 2.7 million. There is a massive ethnic diversity in the schools which teaches the young minds to be respectful of all cultures. At the same time, it adds a layer of dynamics to the overall art and culture scene in the county. More on it later. The current student-teacher ratio stands at 20 to 1. According to the National Center of Educational Statistics, it’s ideal to have a 16 to 1 ratio. Although the Miami-Dade schools are yet to get there, it’s surely making progress. As for teachers, over 97% are certified and over 78% have at least 3 years of experience in teaching. The high school graduation rate is just over 80%. Again, the average graduation rate in the US is 85%. However, you can’t ignore the fact that the schools were even near this 80% mark even 10 years ago! Last but not least, institutions for higher education are abundant in this area. The available options at the time of writing are:

• Florida International University
• Miami Dade College
• Barry University
• University of Miami
• Thomas University
• Johnson & Wales University
• Florida National University
• Florida Memorial University
• Nova Southeastern University

Things to Do in Miami-Dade

Just because you’re not “visiting” Miami doesn’t mean you don’t get to enjoy the touristy things. After all, Miami is known all over the world for its attractions. For those of you who are considering the county for relocating, let’s go over the things to do in this area.

Beaches

One of the main perks of moving to a city by the shore of the Atlantic Ocean is surely the beaches. How can you not go to the Miami Beach from time to time, right? Let’s go over some of the nicest beaches you can take your family to or just hang out with friends.

• Sunny Isles Beach: Located on the 157^th street, this two-mile long beach is considered a heaven for water sports enthusiasts. We’re talking about snorkeling, surfing, and diving. The clear water helps with all of it. After an eventful day, walk into one of the many cafes before heading home.
• Oleta River Park: Moving south from Sunny Isles, you can get to Oleta River Park. This is the largest urban park in all of Florida. You can also go for a swim on the 1200 foot beach or take a kayak to explore. And no, you don’t have to own any gear for these activities because you can pretty much rent everything.
• Haulover Beach: If blue water tickles your fantasy, you might want to check out Haulover Beach after you move to Miami-Dade. This place also has a dog park, tennis center, and a golf course to cover your recreation from all fronts.
• Miami Beach: Consisting of north, mid, and the south beach, these are the most iconic beaches in the county. Needless to say, these are the most crowded as well. If you’re planning on living in the area, you might be better off with the other beaches we’ve covered in this list. Then again, you can never go wrong with the Miami Beach.

Golfing

In case you love to play golf on weekends or special occasions, Miami-Dade is abundant with options. Your options include Cardon Golf, Palmetto Golf Course, Briar Bay Golf Course, Greynolds Golf Course, and the Country Club of Miami. Of course, there are more options spread across the county but we recommend these.

National Park

If you’re planning on relocating to Miami Dade because you want to spend more time in Nature, you’ve made the right call. The area has 2 national parks which are more than enough to keep you occupied and please your outdoor adventure spirit.

• Biscayne National Park: Accumulating a humongous area of 181,000 acres, Biscayne National Park is one of the first parks people explore after moving. This historic landmark protects evidence of human history from more than 10,000 years ago! You can also engage in boating, diving, and fishing inside the park.
• Everglades National Park: If you thought Biscayne was big, wait till you put your foot inside the Everglades National Park. This is credited as the “largest subtropical wilderness in the United States” by the National Park Service. With a massive area of 521,591 acres, it’ll take you months to explore areas that have been discovered by humans!

Art & Culture

The culture of the area you live in has a major impact on how you view life. It’s true even when you move to a new place as an adult. Miami-Dade happens to be a hub of art and culture in Florida. Let’s try to scratch the surface of it all.

Dance

Miami has a very vibrant dance scene including elements from Latin, European, and even Caribbean styles! The epitome of esteem in the area is Miami City Ballet, a community that’s been in existence since 1985. Some local companies that specialize in modern and contemporary dance include Dance Now! Miami, Ballet Flamenco La Rosa, CubanClassical Ballet of Miami, Momentum Dance Company, Peter London Global Dance Company, and so on.

Film and Cinema

For the movie lovers, Miami-Dade is incredible. From IMAX halls to indie film houses, everything is accessible from all parts of the county. Not only film theaters but there are plenty of festivals that revolve around the legacy of world cinema. Some notable festivals in this genre are American Black Film Festival, Urban Film Festival, Miami Jewish Film Festival, and OUTshine Film Festival.

Art Galleries

Places like Rubell Museum, Oolite Arts, Fredric Snitzer Gallery Patricia & Philip Frost Art Museum, Lowe Art Museum, Perez Art Museum Miami, etc. are spread across Miami-Dade for art enthusiasts.

Theater

From grassroot productions to Broadway, everything is fair game in Miami-Dade. The Colony Theater in South Beach is the most historic of all locations in the country. Actor’s Playhouse at the Miracle Theater, Fantasy Theater Factory at the Sandrell Rivers, The Moss Center, Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami Dade, etc. some notable locations for you to visit.

Top Places to Eat and Drink

Eating out with family and friends is engraved in the American culture. It doesn’t matter where you live in the country, we know for a fact that you value good restaurants and bars. Miami Dade has an abundance of both. Top restaurants in the county include:

• The Den – Known for Sushi
• Doce Provisions – The art of Cuban food at Little Havana
• Mosaico – The best contemporary Italian restaurant
• Pizzette Miami – Top local pizza joint
• Baccarat B Bar Lounge – Modern bar experience at Design district

And if you prefer fast food on the go, you may check out the outlets below:

• Five Guys
• Johnny Rockets
• Shake Shack
• Dogma Grill
• La Sandwicherie Brickell
• Grafa Pizza&Pasta

Highways and Transportation

Metrorail, Metrobus, and Metromover, all 3 major elements of public transport are available in Miami Dade. Although statistics show that more than 2 million personal vehicles are registered in the county, you won’t face any problems moving from point A to point B if you don’t have a car. As for moving in and out of the county, you can use 4 different Interstate highways! They would be 75, 95, 195, and 395. Then there are US routes 1, 27, 41, and 44. As you can see, there are no issues with transportation if you’re considering Miami-Dade for relocating.

Political Status

The last area we want to cover in our relocating to Miami-Dade guide is the political situation of the county. The main governing body in this area is the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners, led by the Mayor. After the Miami-Dade County Term Limit Amendment was passed in 2012, a mayor can only serve up to 2 terms, 4 years each. The mayor at the time of writing is Daniella Levine Cava. She came to power in 2020.