Downtown vs South Beach
Data-driven neighborhood comparison based on 862 buildings
Downtown
92
avg score (257 buildings)
⭐ Higher Rated
South Beach
84
avg score (605 buildings)
Side-by-Side Comparison
Metric
Downtown
South Beach
⭐Average Score
92✓
84
📊Median Score
92.1✓
85.6
🏗️Post-Andrew (1994+)
16%✓
3%
⚠️Avg Violations
0.0
0.0
🏢Total Buildings (3+ units)
257
605✓
🏆 Best in Downtown
📋 The Verdict
Downtown has a slight edge with an average building score of 92 compared to 84. However, both neighborhoods have excellent buildings, so focus on finding the right specific building and checking its flood zone and recertification status rather than ruling out either area entirely.
Choose Downtown if you want:
- • Newer construction (16% post-Andrew)
- • Higher average scores
Choose South Beach if you want:
- • More building options
⚠️ Important: Check Flood Zones & Recertification
Building averages don't tell the whole story in Miami. Before renting any building, always check: flood zone designation, 40-year recertification status, and hurricane preparedness features. Use StreetSmart to check individual buildings.