Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hialeah, FL
VS
Wilmington, NC
🏆 Hialeah leads 12 of 23 categories
Hialeah
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$49,531
Violent Crime Index
34 ✓ Safer
Population
222,996 ✓ Larger
Wilmington
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,908 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
116,933
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hialeah, FL
Pros
73% less violent crime than Wilmington
Violent crime is well below the national average (129.6 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 57°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,458/mo
Median income trails Wilmington by $9,377/yr
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Wilmington
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Wilmington, NC
Pros
More college-educated — 43.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $245/mo less ($1,213 vs $1,458)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Households earn $9,377 more per year on average
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Hialeah
Smaller class sizes — 15.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (482.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3514.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (4.9% vs 3.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hialeah
Violent Crime
73% lower
129.6 vs 482.8 per 100k
Hialeah
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.9% unemployment
Wilmington
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 97.1 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Wilmington
Median Income
$9,377
$58,908 vs $49,531/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hialeah, FL | Wilmington, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 97.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $324,300⚠ High | $318,600⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,458⚠ High | $1,213 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $49,531 | $58,908 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.3 min⚠ High | 18.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 11.1% | 14.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 37 ✓ Safer | 143⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 34 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 41 ✓ Safer | 167⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (86) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.4:1 | 15.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.9% | 43.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.1% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | MIAMI-DADE | New Hanover County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.7°F ✓ Warmer | 57.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.8°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 62.7" | 60.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.9" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 222,996 ✓ Larger | 116,933 |
| Median Age | 45.5 ✓ Older | 37.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 47.4% ✓ Higher | 45.9% |
| Under 18 | 16.9% ✓ More | 16.8% |
| Over 65 | 20.1% ✓ More | 17.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hialeah's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Wilmington's 97.1 (US average = 100).
Wilmington is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Hialeah leads 12 of 23 categories. Hialeah wins 12 and Wilmington 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 Wilmington or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($324,300 vs $318,600 median home), income ($49,531 vs $58,908), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hialeah, FL and Wilmington, NC are about 594 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.