Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hialeah, FL
VS
Lakeland, FL
🏆 Lakeland leads 17 of 22 categories
Hialeah
Florida
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$49,531
Violent Crime Index
34
Population
222,996 ✓ Larger
Lakeland
Florida
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,290 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
15 ✓ Safer
Population
114,404
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hialeah, FL
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (3.7%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $324,300
Higher rents — median is $1,458/mo
Median income trails Lakeland by $8,759/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Lakeland, FL
Pros
Homes cost $117k less ($207,800 vs $324,300)
57% less violent crime than Hialeah
Violent crime is well below the national average (56.0 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $241/mo less ($1,217 vs $1,458)
Households earn $8,759 more per year on average
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hialeah
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Lakeland
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.7 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Lakeland
Median Income
$8,759
$58,290 vs $49,531/yr
Lakeland
Violent Crime
57% lower
56.0 vs 129.6 per 100k
Lakeland
Median Home Value
$117k less
$207,800 vs $324,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hialeah, FL | Lakeland, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 100.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $324,300⚠ High | $207,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,458⚠ High | $1,217 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,531 | $58,290 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 8.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 37 | 15 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 34 | 15 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 | 17 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | C+ (89) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.9% | 26.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.1% | 90.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | POLK |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.7°F ✓ Warmer | 73.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 62.7" | 52.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 222,996 ✓ Larger | 114,404 |
| Median Age | 45.5 ✓ Older | 40.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% | 54.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 18.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 20.1% | 21.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hialeah's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Lakeland's 100.7 (US average = 100).
Lakeland is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Lakeland leads 17 of 22 categories. Hialeah wins 5 and Lakeland wins 17. 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 Lakeland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($324,300 vs $207,800 median home), income ($49,531 vs $58,290), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hialeah, FL and Lakeland, FL are about 182 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.