Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hialeah, FL
VS
Palm Bay, FL
🏆 Palm Bay leads 13 of 22 categories
Hialeah
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$49,531
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
222,996 ✓ Larger
Palm Bay
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,538 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
91
Population
121,513
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hialeah, FL
Pros
63% less violent crime than Palm Bay
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.7%)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $324,300
Median income trails Palm Bay by $13,007/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Palm Bay
Palm Bay, FL
Pros
Homes cost $98k less ($226,200 vs $324,300)
Households earn $13,007 more per year on average
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Hialeah
Rent averages $113/mo less ($1,345 vs $1,458)
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hialeah
Violent Crime
63% lower
129.6 vs 347.2 per 100k
Hialeah
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.7% unemployment
Palm Bay
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 100.8 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Palm Bay
Median Income
$13,007
$62,538 vs $49,531/yr
Palm Bay
Median Home Value
$98k less
$226,200 vs $324,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hialeah, FL | Palm Bay, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 100.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $324,300⚠ High | $226,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,458⚠ High | $1,345⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,531 | $62,538 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 7.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 37 ✓ Safer | 74 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 34 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 48 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.9% | 22.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.1% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | BREVARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.7°F ✓ Warmer | 72.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F | 91.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 62.7" | 60.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 222,996 ✓ Larger | 121,513 |
| Median Age | 45.5 ✓ Older | 41.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% | 79.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 21.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 20.1% ✓ More | 19.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hialeah's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Palm Bay's 100.8 (US average = 100).
Palm Bay is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Palm Bay leads 13 of 22 categories. Hialeah wins 9 and Palm Bay 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 Palm Bay or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($324,300 vs $226,200 median home), income ($49,531 vs $62,538), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hialeah, FL and Palm Bay, FL are about 146 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.