Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hialeah, FL
VS
Huntsville, AL
🏆 Huntsville leads 13 of 23 categories
Hialeah
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$49,531
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
222,996 ✓ Larger
Huntsville
Alabama
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
94.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$67,874 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
215,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hialeah, FL
Pros
73% less violent crime than Huntsville
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 50°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,458/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $324,300
Median income trails Huntsville by $18,343/yr
Cost of living runs 17% higher than Huntsville
Huntsville, AL
Pros
Rent averages $438/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,458)
Homes cost $88k less ($236,300 vs $324,300)
Households earn $18,343 more per year on average
More college-educated — 45.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
17% cheaper overall cost of living than Hialeah
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (483.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hialeah
Violent Crime
73% lower
129.6 vs 483.2 per 100k
Hialeah
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.6% unemployment
Huntsville
Cost of Living
17% cheaper
COL index 94.8 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Huntsville
Median Income
$18,343
$67,874 vs $49,531/yr
Huntsville
Median Home Value
$88k less
$236,300 vs $324,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hialeah, FL | Huntsville, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 94.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $324,300⚠ High | $236,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,458⚠ High | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,531 | $67,874 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 11.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 37 ✓ Safer | 122⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 34 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 | 17.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.9% | 45.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.1% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | Huntsville City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.7°F ✓ Warmer | 50.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 62.7" | 54.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 2.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 222,996 ✓ Larger | 215,025 |
| Median Age | 45.5 ✓ Older | 36.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% | 57.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 19.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 20.1% ✓ More | 16.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hialeah's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Huntsville's 94.8 (US average = 100).
Huntsville is 17% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Huntsville leads 13 of 23 categories. Hialeah wins 10 and Huntsville wins 13. 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 Hialeah to Huntsville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($324,300 vs $236,300 median home), income ($49,531 vs $67,874), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hialeah, FL and Huntsville, AL are about 719 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.