Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hialeah, FL
VS
Tuscaloosa, AL
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Hialeah
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$49,531 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
222,996 ✓ Larger
Tuscaloosa
Alabama
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$47,257
Violent Crime Index
146⚠ High
Population
105,797
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hialeah, FL
Pros
77% less violent crime than Tuscaloosa
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 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 56°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,458/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $324,300
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Tuscaloosa
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Tuscaloosa, AL
Pros
Rent averages $478/mo less ($980 vs $1,458)
Homes cost $96k less ($228,300 vs $324,300)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Hialeah
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 38.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cons
Violent crime (553.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2731.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hialeah
Median Income
$2,274
$49,531 vs $47,257/yr
Hialeah
Violent Crime
77% lower
129.6 vs 553.4 per 100k
Hialeah
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.8% unemployment
Tuscaloosa
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Tuscaloosa
Median Home Value
$96k less
$228,300 vs $324,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hialeah, FL | Tuscaloosa, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $324,300⚠ High | $228,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,458⚠ High | $980 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,531 ✓ Higher | $47,257 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 18.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 5.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 37 ✓ Safer | 139⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 34 ✓ Safer | 146⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 130⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 | 17.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.9% | 38.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.1% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | Tuscaloosa City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.7°F ✓ Warmer | 56.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F | 92.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 62.7" | 58.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 222,996 ✓ Larger | 105,797 |
| Median Age | 45.5 ✓ Older | 28.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% ✓ Higher | 45.7% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 17.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 20.1% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hialeah's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Tuscaloosa's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Tuscaloosa is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Hialeah wins 11 and Tuscaloosa wins 11. 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 Tuscaloosa or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($324,300 vs $228,300 median home), income ($49,531 vs $47,257), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hialeah, FL and Tuscaloosa, AL are about 669 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.