Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hialeah, FL
VS
Meridian, ID
🏆 Meridian leads 15 of 23 categories
Hialeah
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$49,531
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
222,996 ✓ Larger
Meridian
Idaho
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$93,296 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
39
Population
119,872
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hialeah, FL
Pros
Homes cost $102k less ($324,300 vs $425,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.6 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 39°F
Rent averages $90/mo less ($1,458 vs $1,548)
Cons
Median income trails Meridian by $43,765/yr
Cost of living runs 18% higher than Meridian
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Longer commutes — 29.3 min average each way
Meridian, ID
Pros
Households earn $43,765 more per year on average
18% cheaper overall cost of living than Hialeah
Violent crime is well below the national average (146.8 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 43.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (2.7%)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $425,800
Higher rents — median is $1,548/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Hialeah
Violent Crime
12% lower
129.6 vs 146.8 per 100k
Hialeah
Median Home Value
$102k less
$324,300 vs $425,800
Meridian
Cost of Living
18% cheaper
COL index 93.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Meridian
Median Income
$43,765
$93,296 vs $49,531/yr
Meridian
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
2.7% vs 3.7% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hialeah, FL | Meridian, ID |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 93.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $324,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $425,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,458⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,548⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,531 | $93,296 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% | 2.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 37 | 34 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 34 ✓ Safer | 39 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 | 27 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 | 18.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.9% | 43.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.1% | 96.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.7°F ✓ Warmer | 38.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F | 92.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 62.7" | 12.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 18.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 222,996 ✓ Larger | 119,872 |
| Median Age | 45.5 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% | 76.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 27.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 20.1% ✓ More | 13.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hialeah's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Meridian's 93.4 (US average = 100).
Meridian is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Meridian leads 15 of 23 categories. Hialeah wins 8 and Meridian 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 Hialeah to Meridian or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($324,300 vs $425,800 median home), income ($49,531 vs $93,296), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hialeah, FL and Meridian, ID are about 2,361 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.