Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hialeah, FL
VS
Modesto, CA
🏆 Hialeah leads 15 of 22 categories
Hialeah
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$49,531
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
222,996 ✓ Larger
Modesto
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,375 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
173⚠ High
Population
218,308
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hialeah, FL
Pros
80% less violent crime than Modesto
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.1 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.6 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $58k less ($324,300 vs $381,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 56°F
Smaller class sizes — 19.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Modesto by $23,844/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Cost of living runs 7% higher than Modesto
Modesto, CA
Pros
Households earn $23,844 more per year on average
7% cheaper overall cost of living than Hialeah
Cons
Violent crime (655.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $381,800
Higher unemployment (7.8% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hialeah
Violent Crime
80% lower
129.6 vs 655.7 per 100k
Hialeah
Median Home Value
$58k less
$324,300 vs $381,800
Hialeah
Unemployment
4.1 pp lower
3.7% vs 7.8% unemployment
Modesto
Cost of Living
7% cheaper
COL index 105.0 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Modesto
Median Income
$23,844
$73,375 vs $49,531/yr
Modesto
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 90.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hialeah, FL | Modesto, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 105.0⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $324,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $381,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,458⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,497⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,531 | $73,375 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 7.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 29.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 37 ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 34 ✓ Safer | 173⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 115⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) ✓ Better | C- (65) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.8:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.9% ✓ Higher | 19.7% |
| High School or Higher | 74.1% | 83.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | Modesto City Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.7°F ✓ Warmer | 56.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 62.7" | 12.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 222,996 ✓ Larger | 218,308 |
| Median Age | 45.5 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% | 57.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 26.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 20.1% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hialeah's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Modesto's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Modesto is 7% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Hialeah leads 15 of 22 categories. Hialeah wins 15 and Modesto wins 7. 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 Modesto or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($324,300 vs $381,800 median home), income ($49,531 vs $73,375), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hialeah, FL and Modesto, CA are about 2,503 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.