Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hialeah, FL
VS
Santa Ana, CA
🏆 Hialeah leads 17 of 22 categories
Hialeah
Florida
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$49,531
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
222,996
Santa Ana
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$84,210 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
130⚠ High
Population
311,379 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hialeah, FL
Pros
Homes cost $300k less ($324,300 vs $624,000)
74% less violent crime than Santa Ana
Rent averages $427/mo less ($1,458 vs $1,885)
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (3.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 69°F
Cons
Median income trails Santa Ana by $34,679/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Longer commutes — 29.3 min average each way
Santa Ana, CA
Pros
Households earn $34,679 more per year on average
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,000
Violent crime (493.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,885/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hialeah
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Hialeah
Violent Crime
74% lower
129.6 vs 493.1 per 100k
Hialeah
Median Home Value
$300k less
$324,300 vs $624,000
Hialeah
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
3.7% vs 5.5% unemployment
Hialeah
Summer Heat
8.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.8°F vs 82.5°F
Santa Ana
Median Income
$34,679
$84,210 vs $49,531/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hialeah, FL | Santa Ana, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $324,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $624,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,458⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,885⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,531 | $84,210 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 25.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 8.0% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 37 ✓ Safer | 110⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 34 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) ✓ Better | C+ (84) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.9% ✓ Higher | 17.9% |
| High School or Higher | 74.1% ✓ Higher | 65.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | Santa Ana Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.7°F ✓ Warmer | 69.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 62.7" | 12.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 222,996 | 311,379 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 45.5 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% ✓ Higher | 44.8% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 20.1% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hialeah's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Santa Ana's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Hialeah is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Hialeah leads 17 of 22 categories. Hialeah wins 17 and Santa Ana wins 5. 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 Santa Ana or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($324,300 vs $624,000 median home), income ($49,531 vs $84,210), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hialeah, FL and Santa Ana, CA are about 2,304 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.