Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hialeah, FL
VS
Vista, CA
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
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
Vista
California
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,715 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
83
Population
98,392
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hialeah, FL
Pros
Homes cost $299k less ($324,300 vs $622,900)
59% less violent crime than Vista
Rent averages $544/mo less ($1,458 vs $2,002)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 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 66°F
Cons
Median income trails Vista by $39,184/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Vista, CA
Pros
Households earn $39,184 more per year on average
More college-educated — 27.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 91°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $622,900
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hialeah
Violent Crime
59% lower
129.6 vs 316.4 per 100k
Hialeah
Median Home Value
$299k less
$324,300 vs $622,900
Hialeah
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
3.7% vs 6.3% unemployment
Hialeah
Summer Heat
11.9°F warmer
July avg high 90.8°F vs 78.9°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 111.8 on the COL index
Vista
Median Income
$39,184
$88,715 vs $49,531/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hialeah, FL | Vista, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 111.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $324,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $622,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,458⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,531 | $88,715 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 27.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 11.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 37 ✓ Safer | 66 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 34 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 | 41 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | C+ (87) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.9% | 27.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.1% | 82.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | Vista Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.7°F ✓ Warmer | 65.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 62.7" | 13.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 222,996 ✓ Larger | 98,392 |
| Median Age | 45.5 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% | 49.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 20.1% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hialeah's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Vista's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Vista is 0% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Hialeah wins 11 and Vista 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 Vista or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($324,300 vs $622,900 median home), income ($49,531 vs $88,715), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hialeah, FL and Vista, CA are about 2,265 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.