The 5 best neighborhoods for young professionals in Miami

We used our proprietary Location Scores to rank the neighborhoods in Miami, Florida based on the following characteristics that matter to young professionals: transit-friendly, parks, groceries, restaurants, cafes, shopping, nightlife, and vibrancy.

Here’s our list of the best neighborhoods for young professionals in Miami:

  1. Downtown
  2. Wynwood
  3. Little Havana
  4. Brickell
  5. Edgewater

Quantifying the characteristics of the best areas to live in Miami for young professionals

Making your way around 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 places to live in Miami for young professionals, as well as the city’s average. We looked at the following scores:

  • Transit-friendly: Represents the frequency and level of service of public transit
  • Parks: Quantity and area of parks nearby
  • Groceries: Distance to closest grocery store and quantity of grocery stores nearby
  • Restaurants: Quantity and diversity of restaurants nearby
  • Cafes: Quantity and diversity of cafés nearby
  • Shopping: Quantity and diversity of shops nearby
  • Nightlife: Quantity and diversity of bars nearby
  • Vibrancy: Quantity and diversity of bars nearby

 

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

Here are the average scores for Miami:

  • Transit-friendly: 5.6 — Transit is available for most trips
  • Parks: 6.3 — Moderate amount of park space nearby
  • Groceries: 7.2 — At least one grocery store within a few minutes’ walk
  • Restaurants: 7.5 — Variety of restaurants within a few minutes’ walk
  • Cafes: 4.9 — Some cafés within walking distance
  • Shopping: 8.3 — Variety of shops within a few minutes’ walk
  • Nightlife: 5.5 — Variety of bars within walking distance
  • Vibrancy: 4.6 — Calm atmosphere most of the day

 

👨‍💼👩‍💼 Composite score for young professionals: 6.2

Ranking the best neighborhoods in Miami for young professionals

Here’s our data-informed list of Miami’s top neighborhoods for young professionals:

1. Downtown

Map of Downtown in Miami, Florida

  • Transit-friendly: 8.9 — Within walking distance of rapid transit and frequent bus lines
  • Parks: 6.8 — Moderate amount of park space nearby
  • Groceries: 9.0 — Several grocery stores nearby
  • Restaurants: 8.9 — Variety of restaurants within a few minutes’ walk
  • Cafes: 6.0 —Variety of cafés within walking distance
  • Shopping: 9.8 — Wide variety of shops within a few minutes’ walk
  • Nightlife: 7.9 — Variety of bars within a few minutes’ walk
  • Vibrancy: 6.6 — Vibrant atmosphere at various times of the day

 

👨‍💼👩‍💼 Composite score for young professionals: 8.0

Downtown Miami is the 34th largest metropolis in the world, and third for highest concentration of high rises in the United States. The area is a densely populated, vibrant, and diverse hub for international finance, a vast dining scene, the arts, and entertainment. It’s also known as the Central Business District of Miami, being that it’s home to a number of banks, companies headquarters, courthouses, and government offices.

There are a lot of areas for shopping and a number of cultural and event venues. If you’re into sports or big concerts, check out the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena and shows on their off nights. At the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, see the Miami City Ballet and Florida Grand Opera, or visiting Broadway shows, and view some contemporary art at the Pérez Art Museum Miami.

 

 

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2. Wynwood

Map of Wynwood in Miami, Florida

  • Transit-friendly: 5.6 — Transit is available for most trips
  • Parks: 6.4 — Moderate amount of park space nearby
  • Groceries: 8.9 — At least one grocery store within a few minutes’ walk
  • Restaurants: 8.5 — Variety of restaurants within a few minutes’ walk
  • Cafes: 5.8 — Variety of cafés within walking distance
  • Shopping: 9.6 — Wide variety of shops within a few minutes’ walk
  • Nightlife: 7.5 — Variety of bars within a few minutes’ walk
  • Vibrancy: 5.5 — Vibrant atmosphere at various times of the day

 

👨‍💼👩‍💼 Composite score for young professionals: 7.2

Wynwood is one of the most vibrant districts in Miami and known for many colorful murals. It’s the place to find art galleries, like the Wynwood Walls outdoor museum and the Museum of Graffiti, retail stores, antique shops, unique bars, eateries serving up artisan plates, and breweries.

The neighborhood is such an art hub that even Art Basel takes place here. Grab a bite of French food with your colleagues at Pastis Miami or Coyo Taco.

 

 

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3. Little Havana

Map of Little Havana in Miami, Florida

  • Transit-friendly: 6.1 — Transit is available for most trips
  • Parks: 6.3 — Moderate amount of park space nearby
  • Groceries: 9.2 — Several grocery stores nearby
  • Restaurants: 8.3 — Variety of restaurants within a few minutes’ walk
  • Cafes: 4.9 — Some cafés within walking distance
  • Shopping: 9.5 — Wide variety of shops within a few minutes’ walk
  • Nightlife: 6.1 — Variety of bars within walking distance
  • Vibrancy: 6.3 — Vibrant atmosphere at various times of the day

 

👨‍💼👩‍💼 Composite score for young professionals: 7.1

Miami’s Little Havana is home to many Cuban exiles and immigrants from across Central and South America. The neighborhood is centered around Calle Ocho, home to Latin-inspired restaurants, bakeries, fruit stands, cigar shops, rum bars, art galleries, music venues, and more. It’s also home to Domino Park, where locals hold court over focused games of Dominoes. Calle Ocho is filled with murals and mosaic tiles that show aspects of Cuban heritage. Azucar Ice Cream Company is another neighborhood staple and showcases the best in tropical flavors.

To further your immersion into the arts, check out indie flicks at the Tower Theater, which was completed in 1926. If you want to stroll through a gallery, Molina Fine Art Gallery and the Futurama 1637 Art Building are both worthy choices. If you want to mix in some music and mojitos with some colleagues after work on a Friday, the Cubaocho Museum & Performing Arts Center is the clear winner.

 

 

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4. Brickell

Map of Brickwell in Miami, Florida

  • Transit-friendly: 7.5 — Within walking distance of rapid transit and frequent bus lines
  • Parks: 6.7— Moderate amount of park space nearby
  • Groceries: 7.5 — At least one grocery store within a few minutes’ walk
  • Restaurants: 8.3 — Variety of restaurants within a few minutes’ walk
  • Cafes: 5.5 — Variety of cafés within walking distance
  • Shopping: 8.9 — Variety of shops within a few minutes’ walk
  • Nightlife: 6.6 — Variety of bars within walking distance
  • Vibrancy: 5.8 — Vibrant atmosphere at various times of the day

 

👨‍💼👩‍💼 Composite score for young professionals: 7.1

Connected to Downtown Miami, the Brickell neighborhood is Miami’s financial center. You’ll find your fellow young professionals working in any of the numerous business towers and living in the luxury condos that overlook Biscayne Bay.

For those working in the banking and business sectors, there are a lot of rooftop bars, like Blackbird Ordinary, and restaurants offering surf n’ turf for those after-work meetings and hangouts. For the latter, check out Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar or PM Fish & Steak House. For other restaurants and more leisurely options like shopping and taking in art, folks flock to the Brickell City Centre.

 

5. Edgewater

Map of Edgewater in Miami, Florida

  • Transit-friendly: 5.9 — Transit is available for most trips
  • Parks: 6.2 — Moderate amount of park space nearby
  • Groceries: 8.9 — At least one grocery store within a few minutes’ walk
  • Restaurants: 8.4 — Variety of restaurants within a few minutes’ walk
  • Cafes: 5.9 — Variety of cafés within walking distance
  • Shopping: 9.3 — Wide variety of shops within a few minutes’ walk
  • Nightlife: 6.6 — Variety of bars within walking distance
  • Vibrancy: 5.5 — Vibrant atmosphere at various times of the day

 

👨‍💼👩‍💼 Composite score for young professionals: 7.1

The Edgewater neighborhood sits on the shore of Biscayne Bay. Similarly to Brickell, the area is known for its luxury apartments and high-rise condominiums. The Bay is also home to 8-acre Margaret Pace Park, where you can enjoy some time on a trail, get in a couple of games of tennis at the courts, or have a picnic with colleagues and friends.

If you’re into designer fashion, hit up the shops on Biscayne Boulevard, where you’ll also find a range of dining options from humble sandwich shops to high-end seafood restaurants. If you’re into the nightlife, be mindful that Edgwater doesn’t really cater to that; there aren’t really any late night spots or clubs.

 

Finding the right neighborhood in Miami for your career

If you’re a young professional with an adventurous palate, love of nightlife, and appreciation for the arts, then Miami is definitely a place to consider pursuing your career. There’s something for everybody, and its diversity makes for an exciting living experience.

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 professional life.

 

 

Try Local Content to see Location Scores, nearby Points of Interest, and School data for any location in the U.S. and Canada

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Thao Tram Ngo

October 04, 2023 | 8 minutes read