Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hialeah, FL
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach 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
Population
222,996
Virginia Beach
Virginia
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,544 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
24 ✓ Safer
Population
457,900 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hialeah, FL
Pros
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.6 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 50°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (3.7%)
Rent averages $110/mo less ($1,458 vs $1,568)
Homes cost $19k less ($324,300 vs $343,700)
Cons
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $38,013/yr
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Virginia Beach
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Longer commutes — 29.3 min average each way
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
Households earn $38,013 more per year on average
29% less violent crime than Hialeah
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 39.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Hialeah
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $343,700
Key Differences at a Glance
Hialeah
Median Home Value
$19k less
$324,300 vs $343,700
Hialeah
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.3% unemployment
Hialeah
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 90.8°F vs 87.4°F
Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$38,013
$87,544 vs $49,531/yr
Virginia Beach
Violent Crime
29% lower
92.3 vs 129.6 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hialeah, FL | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $324,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $343,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,458⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,531 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 37 ✓ Safer | 46 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 34 | 24 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.9% | 39.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.1% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.7°F ✓ Warmer | 50.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 62.7" | 54.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 222,996 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 45.5 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 20.1% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hialeah's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Virginia Beach is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 12 of 23 categories. Hialeah wins 11 and Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($324,300 vs $343,700 median home), income ($49,531 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hialeah, FL and Virginia Beach, VA are about 795 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.