Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Elizabeth, NJ
VS
Hialeah, FL
🏆 Hialeah leads 15 of 23 categories
Elizabeth
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$59,939 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
135,665
Hialeah
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Elizabeth, NJ
Pros
Households earn $10,408 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Property crime (2657.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 3.7%)
Pricier housing — median home is $358,400
Hialeah, FL
Pros
68% less violent crime than Elizabeth
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 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 40°F
Homes cost $34k less ($324,300 vs $358,400)
More college-educated — 19.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Elizabeth by $10,408/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Elizabeth
Median Income
$10,408
$59,939 vs $49,531/yr
Hialeah
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Hialeah
Violent Crime
68% lower
129.6 vs 408.7 per 100k
Hialeah
Median Home Value
$34k less
$324,300 vs $358,400
Hialeah
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.9% unemployment
Hialeah
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.8°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Elizabeth, NJ | Hialeah, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 112.5⚠ High | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $358,400⚠ High | $324,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,390⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,458⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,939 ✓ Higher | $49,531 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter | 29.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 4.8% | 11.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 115⚠ High | 37 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 108⚠ High | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | 41 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (91) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 14.1% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.3% ✓ Higher | 74.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Elizabeth Public Schools | MIAMI-DADE |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 40.0°F | 76.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6" ✓ Drier | 62.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 31.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 135,665 | 222,996 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.7 | 45.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.1% | 47.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 25.4% ✓ More | 16.9% |
| Over 65 | 11.4% | 20.1% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Elizabeth's cost of living index is 112.5 vs Hialeah's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Hialeah is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hialeah leads 15 of 23 categories. Elizabeth wins 8 and Hialeah wins 15. 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 Elizabeth to Hialeah or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($358,400 vs $324,300 median home), income ($59,939 vs $49,531), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Elizabeth, NJ and Hialeah, FL are about 1,081 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.