Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Carlsbad, CA
VS
Hialeah, FL
🏆 Hialeah leads 12 of 22 categories
Carlsbad
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52
Population
114,745
Hialeah
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$49,531
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
222,996 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $84,608 more per year on average
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 3.7%)
Hialeah, FL
Pros
Homes cost $746k less ($324,300 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $1019/mo less ($1,458 vs $2,477)
35% less violent crime than Carlsbad
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.6 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 65°F
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $84,608/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Carlsbad
Median Income
$84,608
$134,139 vs $49,531/yr
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 111.5 on the COL index
Hialeah
Violent Crime
35% lower
129.6 vs 199.1 per 100k
Hialeah
Median Home Value
$746k less
$324,300 vs $1,070,500
Hialeah
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.0% unemployment
Hialeah
Summer Heat
16.6°F warmer
July avg high 90.8°F vs 74.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Carlsbad, CA | Hialeah, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $1,070,500⚠ High | $324,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,477⚠ High | $1,458⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $134,139 ✓ Higher | $49,531 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.0%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 29.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 24.8% ✓ Higher | 11.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 | 37 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 52 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 22.7:1 | 19.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.5% ✓ Higher | 19.9% |
| High School or Higher | 95.1% ✓ Higher | 74.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Carlsbad Unified | MIAMI-DADE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 65.0°F | 76.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 74.2°F | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.4" ✓ Drier | 62.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,745 | 222,996 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.4 | 45.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.2% ✓ Higher | 47.4% |
| Under 18 | 22.8% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 17.8% | 20.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Carlsbad's cost of living index is 111.5 vs Hialeah's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Carlsbad is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Hialeah leads 12 of 22 categories. Carlsbad wins 10 and Hialeah wins 12. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Carlsbad to Hialeah or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($1,070,500 vs $324,300 median home), income ($134,139 vs $49,531), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Carlsbad, CA and Hialeah, FL are about 2,267 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.