A Tale of Two Cities (and Their States)

A Data Comparison: Los Angeles & Miami

This comparison examines Los Angeles and Miami (Dade County, FL), along with California and Florida, across four critical issue areas: violent crime, quality of education, overall state quality, and homelessness. The data comes from public reporting sources and highlights measurable differences in governance outcomes.

Violent Crime. Quality of Education.

Overall State Quality. Homelessness.

A Data Comparison On These Four Issues: Progressive v. Conservative States

Los Angeles

Miami (Dade County FL)

The comparison is not an anomaly.

“Progressive” States v. Florida

State Comparison

Education Rankings

California: 23 — Florida: 1*

Educational rankings are based on the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) and other variables.

Note: the NAEP stopped publishing 12th grade math and reading data by state in 2013. 4th and 8th grade data is current through 2022.

*Note: FL achieves this while also being #1 in cost effectiveness – having the lowest % of taxpayer income devoted to K-12 education.

Source: usnews.com

Source: worldpopulationreview.com

Overall State Quality

California: 37 — Florida: 9

“Best State” rankings are based on 71 metrics, divided among 8 categories.

  • Health Care

  • Education

  • Economy

  • Infrastructure

  • Opportunity

  • Financial Stability

  • Crime and Law Enforcement

  • Environment

Source: usnews.com

Violent Crime Trends

Changes in Violent Crime Rates 2014 through 2022

Los Angeles and Miami; CA and FL

Violent Crime Rates – LA v. Miami - Per 100,000 pop.

Source: City-Data.com

Homelessness Comparison

Rank Per 10,000 Total Homeless

CA: 1 — 43.7 — 172,000

FL: 20 — 11.9 — 26,000

Note: Per capita homeless rates are determined more by government policies on law enforcement and free social services than on weather or geographic location. After CA, the next 7 highest per capita homeless states are all northern/cold weather states.

Source: worldpopulationreview.com

Crime Rates

Violent Crime Rates – CA v. FL - Per 100,000 population

CA Violent Crime Has Risen 28% In 8 Years!

Source: FBI Data Explorer

Summary

California spends, and taxes its residents, at a 70% higher rate than Florida.

Despite this:

  • Los Angeles and CA crime is rapidly increasing while Miami and FL crime is decreasing.

  • CA schools were once the best in the US. Now FL is ranked #1 while CA has fallen to the middle of the 50 states.

  • CA ranks #1 as having the worst homeless problem, while FL has only a fraction of the homeless and ranks near average despite its mild climate.

What Can I Do?

FL has a great Governor and Legislature, acting in concert with a great Miami Mayor, City Commission and DA.

We all have three choices:

  • Move to FL or another state that is improving the quality of life for its residents.

  • Complain, do nothing and watch our quality of life continue to decline.

  • Register and vote Republican like they’re doing in FL, then watch our life here in CA start to improve.

Take Action: Select Michael Geraghty for AD51

Serious Problems Require Serious Leadership

If you believe Los Angeles deserves practical reform, measurable outcomes, and leadership grounded in research and experience, I invite you to take the next step.

If you believe Los Angeles deserves practical reform, measurable outcomes, and leadership grounded in research and experience, I invite you to take the next step.

© Michael Geraghty AD51. 2026. All Rights Reserved.