Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Hollywood, FL
🏆 Alexandria leads 11 of 19 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
Hollywood
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,958
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
152,764
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $51,221 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 pts lower (3.2%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Hollywood
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Hollywood, FL
Pros
Homes cost $310k less ($345,300 vs $655,700)
Rent averages $520/mo less ($1,463 vs $1,983)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $51,221/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 3.2%)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Alexandria
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Alexandria
Median Income
$51,221
$113,179 vs $61,958/yr
Alexandria
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
3.2% vs 6.1% unemployment
Hollywood
Median Home Value
$310k less
$345,300 vs $655,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Hollywood, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $345,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,463⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $61,958 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 31.7% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 88.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 76.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 65.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 152,764 |
| Median Age | 37.4 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 56.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 19.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Hollywood's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Alexandria is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Alexandria leads 11 of 19 categories. Alexandria wins 11 and Hollywood wins 8. 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 Alexandria to Hollywood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $345,300 median home), income ($113,179 vs $61,958), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Hollywood, FL are about 902 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.