Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hialeah, FL
VS
Mesa, AZ
🏆 Mesa leads 14 of 22 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
Mesa
Arizona
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,766 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
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 Mesa
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 91°F vs 106°F
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 68°F
Cons
Median income trails Mesa by $24,235/yr
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Mesa
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Longer commutes — 29.3 min average each way
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Households earn $24,235 more per year on average
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Hialeah
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 30.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $106/mo less ($1,352 vs $1,458)
Cons
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.7%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Hialeah
Violent Crime
73% lower
129.6 vs 482.7 per 100k
Hialeah
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.7% unemployment
Mesa
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Mesa
Median Income
$24,235
$73,766 vs $49,531/yr
Mesa
Summer Heat
15.1°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 90.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hialeah, FL | Mesa, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $324,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $327,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,458⚠ High | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,531 | $73,766 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 14.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 37 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 34 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 70 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.9% | 30.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.1% | 90.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | Mesa Unified District (4235) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.7°F ✓ Warmer | 67.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 62.7" | 9.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 222,996 | 503,390 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 45.5 ✓ Older | 36.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% | 63.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 23.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 20.1% ✓ More | 16.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hialeah's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Mesa's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Mesa is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Mesa leads 14 of 22 categories. Hialeah wins 8 and Mesa wins 14. 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 Mesa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($324,300 vs $327,700 median home), income ($49,531 vs $73,766), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hialeah, FL and Mesa, AZ are about 1,949 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.