While the beaches are definitely a draw for many who move here, so too is the diversity, unparalleled nightlife, flavorful global cuisine and healthy lifestyle (the city is one of the top 10 healthiest in the nation).
This colorful city is smaller than New York and L.A., both in population and landmass. And yet, it ranks No. 4 on the list of the most densely populated cities in the U.S. It’s a crowded city, for sure, but the people here know how to have fun. They’re friendly and welcoming and want you to join the party!
If you’re considering a move to Miami, we have a treat for you. Following are 15 of the best neighborhoods in Miami. You won’t see some popular places often associated with Miami like Miami Beach and Coral Gables on this list because they’re technically their own cities. But knowing what each neighborhood has to offer will make the process of finding an apartment so much easier. Here are some of the best this great city has to offer.
1. Southwest Coconut Grove
- Median 1-BR rent: $2,100
- Median 2-BR rent: $2,500
- Walk Score: 61/100
Coconut Grove is a bohemian neighborhood with lots of natural beauty. The tree-lined streets are a welcome change from the skyscrapers of Downtown Miami. Residents also love that this neighborhood has one of the lowest crime rates in the city, thanks in part to the regular police presence.
The Southwest portion of Coconut Grove is even more residential than the central part of the neighborhood. However, that doesn’t mean you have to give up on amenities. Southwest Coconut Grove is close to public transportation, with the option of trains or buses. This neighborhood is also ideal for pet owners. You’ll meet plenty of kindred spirits as you take your four-legged fur baby on a walk around the neighborhood.
2. Wynwood
- Median 1-BR rent: $3,045
- Median 2-BR rent: $3,947
- Walk Score: 90/100
The Wynwood neighborhood is north of Downtown. It’s one of the most walkable neighborhoods in Miami, with numerous side streets that help travelers avoid some of the traffic on the freeways, which, let’s be honest, is a nightmare at times.
Another reason why this is one of the best neighborhoods in Miami is that Wynwood doesn’t have your typical Miami vibe. Instead, it’s more funky and artsy, with beautiful, colorful murals (graffiti art), fun restaurants, cafés, bars and plenty of forward-thinking fashion options in the malls and boutiques.
One thing is for sure: You’ll never feel bored if you move to the Wynwood neighborhood.
3. Little Havana
- Median 1-BR rent: $1,350
- Median 2-BR rent: $1,900
- Walk Score: 87/100
Another vibrant Miami neighborhood is Little Havana, which came into being in the 1960s when Cuban refugees escaping Castro’s Cuba settled here. As the number of Cuban residents increased, the look and feel of the community started to change, soon reflecting and representing its new inhabitants.
Residents of Little Havana try to make their neighborhood feel like home. When you move to this neighborhood, the colorful buildings, delectable Cuban cuisine and incredible festivals that fill the air with music and the streets with dancers, both young and old, will captivate you.
Other immigrants have started moving into the city, particularly from Nicaragua and other Central American countries. Adding their cuisine and personality into the mix provides an appealing eclectic cultural and culinary experience.
4. Brickell
- Median 1-BR rent: $3,500
- Median 2-BR rent: $4,097
- Walk Score: 93/100
The Brickell neighborhood is the financial heart of Miami. If you work in banking, investing or some other financial institution, you’ll likely work in this neighborhood. Brickell is a densely populated neighborhood of approximately 35,000 residents, with a mix of residential and business properties.
It’s one of the best neighborhoods in Miami for renters with a higher-than-average budget due to the brand-new, high-rise apartment and condo buildings and towers. Your neighbors will likely be professionals in the financial industry or possibly foreign dignitaries, as this neighborhood is also home to many foreign consulates.
Brickell is a fast-paced neighborhood with plenty going on during the day and night. If that appeals to you, you should definitely consider finding an apartment to rent in this part of the city.
5. Edgewater
- Median 1-BR rent: $3,100
- Median 2-BR rent: $3,800
- Walk Score: 86/100
Edgewater is a laid-back neighborhood, great for people who like to go with the flow and want a break from the hustle of city living. You still get your urban amenities and have easy access to South Beach, Miami’s Design District and the Art Districts of Downtown and Wynwood. But you’ll also feel like your apartment is off the beaten path, especially since it’s not a hot spot for tourists.
Edgewater is a nature-oriented community with plenty of parks, green spaces and places to walk and be one with nature. No wonder it’s considered one of Miami’s best-kept secrets!
6. Downtown Miami
- Median 1-BR rent: $2,974
- Median 2-BR rent: $3,224
- Walk Score: 61/100
Downtown is one of the best neighborhoods in Miami for people who love being in the center of it all. You’ll never get bored because there’s something to do 24/7, from the exciting nightlife activities at clubs and bars and some of the most amazing restaurants you’ll ever visit to a vibrant art scene and plenty of opportunities for healthy activities, like hiking, biking or hitting the gym.
But it’s not all city amenities and activities. Downtown is centrally located, which means you’ll have fast and easy access to numerous beaches and green spaces where you can temporarily step away from the chaotic city energy, catch your breath and enjoy the natural beauty of Florida.
7. Flagami
- Median 1-BR rent: $1,200
- Median 2-BR rent: $1,850
- Walk Score: 71/100
Another great Miami neighborhood is Flagami. It’s ideal for residents looking for more affordable living options yet still close to the city for work and fun.
Flagami is an optimal neighborhood for families, as most of the public schools in the area are high above average.
Residents in Flagami say one of the best features of the neighborhood is that crime is a rarity. Plus, the neighborhood feels like a close-knit community. You know who your neighbors are. They’ll greet you with a smile as they pass you on the street. And during hurricane season, everyone pulls together to keep the community safe.
8. Coral Way
- Median 1-BR rent: $2,375
- Median 2-BR rent: $2,924
- Walk Score: 82/100
According to the Miami Herald, Coral Way is the spine of eastern Miami, which in our books makes it one of the best neighborhoods in Miami.
Coral Way is approximately 10 minutes east of another popular Miami neighborhood, Coral Gables. Both neighborhoods are famous for their beauty. Back in 1929, there was a Roadside Beautification Program for the area, during which time the city planted over 1000 banyan trees. The trees have grown into a spectacle of beauty, with their gnarly trunks and foliage creating covered pathways.
Architecture in Coral Way is also stunning. Most dwellings are in the style of Art Deco or turn of the century Mission Revival.
In addition to the area’s aesthetics, as a resident here, you’ll have easy access to some of the best Mediterranean restaurants in all of Florida.
9. Model City
- Median 1-BR rent: $1,300
- Median 2-BR rent: $1,250
- Walk Score: 68/100
Legally and historically, this neighborhood is “Model City.” However, amongst residents, it’s known as “Liberty City.” During the Great Depression, in an effort to address the deteriorating housing conditions of Miami, President Roosevelt authorized the construction of a housing project called Liberty Square.
During the mid-century, the middle-income, Black community started to grow and thrive. Prominent figures called it home, including Muhammad Ali and M. Athalie Range (the first Black American to serve on the Miami city commission). Resorts and service/entertainment establishments in the area even eventually catered to the likes of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mickey Mantle.
Model City is currently undergoing another transformation, with over $300 million delegated to the city in 2015 to improve the housing community, reduce crime and create more opportunities for residents. The project is scheduled for completion in 2023.
10. Spring Garden
- Median 1-BR rent: $2,499
- Median 2-BR rent: $1,950
- Walk Score: 61/100
If you love nature but don’t want to give up the amenities of city living, Spring Garden is the perfect neighborhood! Spring Garden is full of trees and has a distinctive park-like feel to it. It’s one of the oldest neighborhoods in Miami and has earned status as one of five historic districts in the city.
The area sits along the Miami River and two parks overlook the River. The streets are wide and have well-kept sidewalks, so you can safely take a stroll with your kids, friends, significant other or man’s best friend.
11. Little River
- Median 1-BR rent: $1,350
- Median 2-BR rent: $1,500
- Walk Score: 61/100
Little River is becoming one of the coolest neighborhoods in Miami. Prior to WWII, the neighborhood was a bustling town. However, after the war, the city developed the interstate system, which caused people to bypass Little River on their way to Miami.
Since 2014, a husband-and-wife duo of Abess and Vander Werff (who previously helped overhaul their previous base in Brooklyn) have purchased multiple properties in the area. They’ve created a cohesive neighborhood with a mix of big-brand stores and local boutiques, allowing entrepreneurs the opportunity to build their dream business.
The neighborhood is also slowly becoming more walkable and offers a variety of art, entertainment and dining experiences.
12. Little Haiti
- Median 1-BR rent: $1,250
- Median 2-BR rent: $1,650
- Walk Score: 75/100
Like Little Havana, Little Haiti (also known as Lemon City) is a community made up of Haitian immigrants who have created a rich, cultural home full of art, some of the best food you’ll ever eat, festivities and dance-inducing music.
Interesting features of this neighborhood are the Victorian architecture and enchanting businesses like the Caribbean Marketplace, as well as Libreri Mapou, a bookstore where you can find literature in English, Creole and French.
Art is an important feature of this neighborhood, as well, with contemporary galleries and the Little Haiti Cultural Complex, where you can watch Haitian folk dancing and musical performances.
13. West Flagler
- Median 1-BR rent: $1,450
- Median 2-BR rent: $1,850
- Walk Score: 83/100
Another one of the best neighborhoods in Miami is West Flagler. It’s located north of the Tamiami Trail and south of North Seventh Street. Previously, residents called this neighborhood West Little Havana.
The neighborhood has an urban-suburban feel to it, and you’ll find plenty of restaurants and cafés to enjoy your morning brew or catch up with friends.
Most of the residents in the area are young professionals who rent.
14. Allapattah
- Median 1-BR rent: $1,600
- Median 2-BR rent: $1,500
- Walk Score: 74/100
Allapattah is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the city. Residents here know their neighbors and have a strong sense of community. And yet, there are still plenty of urban amenities, like thrift shops, hipster bars and the Rubell Museum, home to one of the largest private collections of contemporary art on the continent.
Since property values have skyrocketed in Midtown, the Design District and Wynwood, developers are exploring Allapattah and hope, shortly, to transform it into one of Miami’s cultural hubs.
15. Overtown
- Median 1-BR rent: $1,450
- Median 2-BR rent: $1,950
- Walk Score: 80/100
Another one of the best neighborhoods in Miami is Overtown. It’s one of the historical — and even legendary — districts of Miami. The neighborhood’s growth mirrored the 1930s Harlem Renaissance, and it soon became known as Little Broadway, where stars like Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong performed. This neighborhood is ideal if art, music, history and culture are high on your list of must-haves!
Ready to make the move to one of the best neighborhoods in Miami?
Did any of the spots on our list of the best neighborhoods in Miami intrigue you? If so, you should check out apartments for rent in Miami. You can search by neighborhood, price point, size and other amenities. Why look through thousands of apartments when most of them aren’t what you really want? Cut down on the hassle and the stress!
