Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Columbia, MO
VS
Hollywood, FL
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Columbia
Missouri
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,455
Violent Crime Index
91
Population
126,172
Hollywood
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,958 ✓ Higher
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, MO
Pros
Rent averages $466/mo less ($997 vs $1,463)
Homes cost $97k less ($248,600 vs $345,300)
23% cheaper overall cost of living than Hollywood
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.0%)
More college-educated — 55.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Hollywood, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 39°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,463/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $345,300
Cost of living runs 23% higher than Columbia
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Columbia
Cost of Living
23% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Columbia
Median Home Value
$97k less
$248,600 vs $345,300
Columbia
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.0% vs 6.1% unemployment
Hollywood
Median Income
$1,503
$61,958 vs $60,455/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Columbia, MO | Hollywood, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $248,600 ✓ Lower | $345,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $997 ✓ Lower | $1,463⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,455 | $61,958 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 16.5 min ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.6% | 8.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 91 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 110⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (123) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.8:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.3% ✓ Higher | 31.7% |
| High School or Higher | 95.4% ✓ Higher | 88.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | COLUMBIA 93 | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 39.3°F | 76.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.6°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.8" ✓ Drier | 65.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 17.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 126,172 | 152,764 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 28.8 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 48.8% | 56.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.0% | 19.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Columbia's cost of living index is 89.3 vs Hollywood's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Columbia is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Columbia wins 10 and Hollywood wins 10. 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 ($248,600 vs $345,300 median home), income ($60,455 vs $61,958), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Columbia, MO and Hollywood, FL are about 1,137 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.