Living in Hialeah, Florida

Hialeah is a true community. It's a place where locals actively support small, locally owned shops over big chains. That loyalty is rooted in the city’s strong Hispanic population and its history as a hub for Cuban emigration following the Cuban Revolution of 1959. Residents overwhelmingly choose mom-and-pop restaurants instead of large franchises because supporting those businesses means supporting the foundation of their neighborhood.

Still skeptical? Just look at Publix, the well-known Florida-based grocery chain. Rather than open a standard store, they adapted to the community and launched “Publix Sabor,” designed specifically to serve Latin American and Hispanic clientele. From the products they stock to the services they offer, everything was customized to reflect the tastes and needs of Hialeah residents.

Another thing to understand about Hialeah: it’s a city that struggles to shake off a bad reputation. Whether that comes from racism, misunderstanding, or plain ignorance, Hialeah doesn’t deserve the criticism it often receives. You’ll hear people from other parts of the Miami metro area say it’s not somewhere they’d want to live, that the people are unfriendly, or that the city is run-down. But those assumptions miss the mark. Hialeah has deep cultural roots, a proud history, and a strong sense of identity that deserves recognition, not dismissal.

The thing you need to know about Hialeah is that it has a long history of residents immigrating to the US from Cuba and other Latin American countries. Because of this, the Spanish language is a vital part of daily life in Hialeah. Hialeah is often referred to as the second least diverse city in the US, due to its high Hispanic population. Cuban refugees, especially, are credited with shaping the culture and daily life in the city. There are tributes to Cuban culture everywhere including statues, local events, and more.

We highly recommend visiting Hialeah and staying in the community in a VRBO rather than a hotel to get a feel for living among the locals. You can also receive discounted travel fares via our partnership with Expedia.

Hialeah residents see a slightly higher unemployment rate than the US average. Attributing to the unemployment rates rising over the past year is the fact that the top industry, by job, in Hialeah is retail, and, arguably, a good amount of people were laid off due to the pandemic. On a higher note, the future job growth in Hialeah is expected to be slightly higher than the US average and Hialeah will likely continue to see both population and job growth over the next decade. The top industries behind retail are healthcare and social services as well as manufacturing.