Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MD
VS
Hollywood, FL
🏆 Columbia leads 12 of 20 categories
Columbia
Maryland
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$124,537 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
106,600
Hollywood
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,958
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
152,764 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Columbia, MD
Pros
Households earn $62,579 more per year on average
More college-educated — 63.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.0%)
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Hollywood
Smaller class sizes — 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $458,700
Higher rents — median is $1,895/mo
Hollywood, FL
Pros
Homes cost $113k less ($345,300 vs $458,700)
Rent averages $432/mo less ($1,463 vs $1,895)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 43°F
Cons
Median income trails Columbia by $62,579/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.0%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Columbia
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.7 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Income
$62,579
$124,537 vs $61,958/yr
Columbia
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.0% vs 6.1% unemployment
Hollywood
Median Home Value
$113k less
$345,300 vs $458,700
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, MD | Hollywood, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.7⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $458,700⚠ High | $345,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,895⚠ High | $1,463⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,537 ✓ Higher | $61,958 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.5% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 63.6% ✓ Higher | 31.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.6% ✓ Higher | 88.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Howard County Public Schools | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 42.7°F | 76.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 49.7" ✓ Drier | 65.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 28.5" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 106,600 | 152,764 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 38.8 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 64.3% ✓ Higher | 56.6% |
| Under 18 | 21.0% ✓ More | 19.3% |
| Over 65 | 16.3% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 102.7 vs Hollywood's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Columbia leads 12 of 20 categories. Columbia wins 12 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 Columbia to Hollywood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($458,700 vs $345,300 median home), income ($124,537 vs $61,958), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MD and Hollywood, FL are about 930 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.