Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Hollywood, FL
🏆 Hollywood leads 11 of 19 categories
Costa Mesa
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490
Hollywood
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Households earn $43,023 more per year on average
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.0%)
More college-educated — 42.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $959,800
Higher rents — median is $2,268/mo
Violent crime (737.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Hollywood, FL
Pros
Homes cost $615k less ($345,300 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $805/mo less ($1,463 vs $2,268)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 67°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Cons
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $43,023/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 5.0%)
Longer commutes — 30.4 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$43,023
$104,981 vs $61,958/yr
Costa Mesa
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.1% unemployment
Hollywood
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Hollywood
Median Home Value
$615k less
$345,300 vs $959,800
Hollywood
Summer Heat
10.7°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Hollywood, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $345,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,463⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $61,958 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (92) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% ✓ Higher | 31.7% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% | 88.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F | 76.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 65.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 | 152,764 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 56.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 19.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Hollywood's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Hollywood is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Hollywood leads 11 of 19 categories. Costa Mesa wins 8 and Hollywood wins 11. 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 Costa Mesa to Hollywood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $345,300 median home), income ($104,981 vs $61,958), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Hollywood, FL are about 2,309 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.