Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hialeah, FL
VS
Springfield, IL
🏆 Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories
Hialeah
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$49,531
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
222,996 ✓ Larger
Springfield
Illinois
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$62,419 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
237⚠ High
Population
114,214
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hialeah, FL
Pros
86% less violent crime than Springfield
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (3.7%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.6 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 36°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $324,300
Higher rents — median is $1,458/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Springfield
Median income trails Springfield by $12,888/yr
Springfield, IL
Pros
Homes cost $177k less ($147,700 vs $324,300)
Rent averages $545/mo less ($913 vs $1,458)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Hialeah
Households earn $12,888 more per year on average
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 34.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (901.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4911.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hialeah
Violent Crime
86% lower
129.6 vs 901.2 per 100k
Hialeah
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Hialeah
Summer Heat
5.3°F warmer
July avg high 90.8°F vs 85.5°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 90.5 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Income
$12,888
$62,419 vs $49,531/yr
Springfield
Median Home Value
$177k less
$147,700 vs $324,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hialeah, FL | Springfield, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 90.5 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $324,300⚠ High | $147,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,458⚠ High | $913 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,531 | $62,419 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 17.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 10.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 37 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 34 ✓ Safer | 237⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 234⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | A- (111) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.9% | 34.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.1% | 92.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | Springfield SD 186 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.7°F ✓ Warmer | 35.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer | 85.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 62.7" | 40.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 21.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 222,996 ✓ Larger | 114,214 |
| Median Age | 45.5 ✓ Older | 40.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% | 62.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 21.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 20.1% ✓ More | 18.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hialeah's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Springfield's 90.5 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Springfield leads 12 of 23 categories. Hialeah wins 11 and Springfield wins 12. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($324,300 vs $147,700 median home), income ($49,531 vs $62,419), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hialeah, FL and Springfield, IL are about 1,103 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.