Quantifying the characteristics of the best neighborhoods for families in Miami

Making your way through Miami with location data

Local Logic builds location intelligence solutions to help home seekers and investors find opportunities that are most suited to their preferences and requirements. We draw upon thousands of data points to develop 18 proprietary Location Scores to provide street and neighborhood-level insights.

Location Scores measure amenities close by and mobility patterns around a neighborhood, so homebuyers can better understand and assess a location. Using our location insights, you can find properties based on specific characteristics, such as proximity to schools or quiet neighborhoods, and make more informed decisions on where to live.

Benchmarking neighborhood scores against Miami’s average scores

Below you’ll find the Location Scores for the best Miami neighborhoods for families as well as the city’s average. We analyzed the locations by the following family-friendly scores:

• Quiet: Level of noise nearby
• Pedestrian-friendly: Represents how many stores and institutions are nearby and how pleasant it is to walk to them
• Parks: Quantity and area of parks nearby
• Groceries: Distance to closest grocery store and quantity of grocery stores nearby
• Elementary Schools: Distance to closest elementary school
• High Schools: Distance to closest high school

Then, we ranked each neighborhood by a composite score of all these factors.

Ranking urban Miami’s most family-friendly neighborhoods

Here’s our data-informed list of urban Miami’s most family-friendly neighborhoods:

1. Little Havana

Little Havana is Miami’s globally famous Cuban exile neighborhood. The neighborhood is to the immediate west of Downtown Miami, and is known for its food, vibrant street life, music, and warmth from locals. Historic Calle Ocho (8th Street) is probably the biggest gathering spot for locals of all ages. Máximo Gómez Park, known by locals as Domino Park, is where a lot of folks gather to play dominoes and chess; it’s especially busy on Sundays.

On the last Friday of every month, Cultural Fridays happen. It’s a wonderful opportunity for local families to take in musical performances on one of the many outdoor stages, and check out the work of local artists at booths or in one of the many galleries.

2. Wynwood

Although art is everywhere in Miami, the Wynwood neighborhood prides itself on being a creative and cultural hub. You and your family will live in a neighborhood that has some of the world’s best contemporary art, some of which is found at the Wynwood Walls.

It’s also home to the Museum of Graffiti, which is the first of its kind to exist. You can take beginner lessons here, and they also have graffiti drawing classes for kids on Sunday mornings. During the week, your children can attend school at Eneida M. Hartner Elementary School and Miami Arts Charter School.

3. Buena Vista

The Buena Vista neighborhood is located just north of the Miami Design District. It’s known to be a primarily residential neighborhood and is full of historic single-family homes. It has a population of under 10,000, making it a great place to raise your family if you want to be a part of a smaller and more tight-knit community.

The neighborhood’s schools are zoned in the Miami-Dade School district and include Shadowlawn Elementary School and Design and Architecture Senior High School (also known as DASH).

4. Edgewater

The Edgewater neighborhood offers families a variety of housing options from historic single family homes, to high-rise and mid-rise residences. The neighborhood is attracting young families with the average ages for both men and women being 32 and the average family size being three people.

When it comes to the arts, Edgewater is home to the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts and the Pérez Art Museum Miami. If you or your family are more into the sciences, you also have the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science, which includes an aquarium and planetarium.

5. Coconut Grove

Coconut Grove, also known as The Grove, is the oldest neighborhood in Miami-Dade when it comes to continuous habitation. It’s a laid-back area that’s famous for its boating activity, and draws its roots back to The Bahamas. It’s also one of the greenest areas in all of Miami, which is good news for families that like to spend time in these sorts of areas. Peacock Park sits on more than nine acres, and offers a ton of family-friendly recreational activities.

The outdoor facilities include a basketball court, softball field, soccer fields, and playgrounds. The indoor recreational building houses foosball, ping-pong, and a handful of computer workstations with free wifi. The neighborhood also offers an outdoor market and a number of outdoor festivals and events during the year, including the Coconut Grove Arts Festival.

Finding the best neighborhood in Miami for families

If you want your family to be immersed in the arts, or Cuban and South American culture, then one of our best neighborhoods in Miami for families might be just what you’re looking for.

Our Location Scores are available through Local Content on many of our partner sites and their real estate listings in Miami. When searching for your next home, or a new neighborhood, you can look for specific characteristics on each individual listing to find the perfect place for you and your family.