Miami/Compare
Brickell vs Downtown
Brickell and Downtown are two official neighborhoods in Miami. Brickell is the calmer Part I map (16 vs 0). Brickell wins the errand count. Downtown has the lower ACS median ($2,749).
Data period. ACS 2024 5-year (2020-2024) · MPD limited sample from public heatmap layer (not full Part I year) · OSM Nov 2026. ACS and MPD retrieved 2026-11-05; OSM retrieved 2026-11-05. Editorial copy last revised Sep 2026.
Scores
Fit axes among official Miami neighborhoods.
| Axis | Brickell | Downtown |
|---|---|---|
| Safety | 16 | 0 |
| Schools | 50 | 50 |
| Walk | 100 | 76 |
| Cost fit | 78 | 91 |
| Vibe | 100 | 75 |
| Median rent | $3,196 | $2,749 |
| Median home | $595,734 | $572,525 |
| Population | 7,011 | 5,966 |
| Commute to Downtown / Brickell | 5 min | 0 min |
| Commute to Midtown / Design District | 12 min | 10 min |
| Commute to Coconut Grove | 15 min | 15 min |
Living numbers
Who rents, how old, how much crime, how many shops — beside the scores.
| Fact | Brickell | Downtown |
|---|---|---|
| Renters | 70% | 64% |
| Median age | 34 | 34 |
| Median income | $144K | $116K |
| Part I per 1k | 11.8 | 37.0 |
| Groceries / 800m | 8 | 5 |
| Transit stops / 800m | 6 | 8 |
| Parks / 800m | 4 | 3 |
| 311 last 14 days | — | — |
Rent
Rent since 2014
ACS 5-year median gross rent for Miami. Up 11% since 2014. Brickell is 60% above the 2018 city median. Downtown is 37% above the 2018 city median.
Overlapping 5-year ACS windows (B25064), not asking rent. Census does not publish a rent series for each official neighborhood, so the line is the city place. Dashed marks are each area’s ACS 2024 median.
Which to pick
The same numbers as the table, in sentences. Nobody wins the city.
Pick Brickell if you want the cafes and the night and you want the errands on foot. Vibe is 100 vs 75. Walk is 100 vs 76. Safety is 16 vs 0. Read both pages before you decide.
Pick Downtown if the rent gap is the point. ACS median rent is $2,749 vs $3,196. Read both pages before you decide.
Brickell
The official polygon is Brickell Village. Median income is $144,110 and rent is $3,196. Violent Part I (sample) is 1.1 per 1,000. Property is 10.7. Renters are 70%.
$3,196 median rent · safety 16 · walk 100
Downtown
The official polygon is CBD. Median income is $116,258 and rent is $2,749. Violent Part I (sample) is 8.0 per 1,000. Property is 29.0. Renters are 64%.
$2,749 median rent · safety 0 · walk 76
Common questions
Same pair, said in questions. The numbers are in the tables.
Which is cheaper, Brickell or Downtown?
Downtown is the lower ACS median: $3,196 vs $2,749. About 64% rent in Downtown vs 70% in Brickell. Survey medians, not a listing you can message tonight.
Is Brickell more walkable than Downtown?
Brickell wins the errand count (walk 100 vs 76). Groceries inside 800 meters: 8 vs 5. Not a Walk Score license.
Which is safer on this map, Brickell or Downtown?
Brickell is the calmer Part I read (16 vs 0). Combined rate 11.8 vs 37.0 per 1,000. Visitors count in those numbers.
Which scores higher for families, Brickell or Downtown?
Brickell leads the school axis (50 vs 50). Nearby rating is thin vs thin. Median age 34 vs 34. Downtown has more of the night. Neither number is a school assignment.
Which has the shorter commute to Downtown / Brickell?
5 minutes from Brickell to Downtown / Brickell, 0 from Downtown. Downtown is the shorter weekday. Not this hour's traffic.
If you drop both
Closest official neighborhood that is not Brickell or Downtown: The Roads. The official polygon is Roads. Median income is $116,192 and rent is $2,095. Violent Part I (sample) is 0.4 per 1,000. Property is 2.1. Renters are 52%.
Scores are relative among official Miami neighborhoods with the same editorial weights. Read the method.