WalletHub Ranks Hialeah Among Worst U.S. Cities to Raise a Family

Hialeah, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami are listed among the lowest-ranked cities in the country for raising a family, according to a new WalletHub study.

WalletHub, a personal finance analysis firm, evaluated 182 U.S. cities using 45 key indicators grouped into five major categories: family fun, health and safety, education/childcare, affordability, and socioeconomics.

“Finding the right place to raise children requires balancing cost of living, educational quality, safety, and recreational opportunities — and ideally, proximity to extended family,” said analyst Chip Lupo in a statement.

South Florida Scores Poorly

Hialeah landed near the bottom, between New Orleans and Jackson, Mississippi. While the city performed well in health and childcare, it scored poorly in affordability, family fun, and socioeconomics, dragging down its overall position.

Miami ranked slightly higher, with decent marks for fun, safety, and education. However, it placed second to last in affordability — just above Hialeah — and 155th in socioeconomic factors.

Fort Lauderdale performed marginally better than Miami, but still ranked below average in nearly every category except education, where it placed 75th.

A Sharp Contrast with Other Rankings

These results contrast sharply with South Florida’s usual image in national rankings. Miami frequently ranks among the top U.S. cities for nightlife (U.S. News), luxury shopping (Quartz), and beach tourism (TripAdvisor). However, WalletHub's analysis highlights a critical gap between tourist appeal and long-term livability for families.