Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hartford, CT
VS
Hollywood, FL
🏆 Hollywood leads 13 of 20 categories
Hartford
Connecticut
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$41,841
Violent Crime Index
136⚠ High
Population
121,057
Hollywood
Florida
13
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.
Hartford, CT
Pros
Homes cost $146k less ($198,900 vs $345,300)
Rent averages $309/mo less ($1,154 vs $1,463)
16% cheaper overall cost of living than Hollywood
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hollywood by $20,117/yr
Violent crime (515.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2845.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (10.6% vs 6.1%)
Hollywood, FL
Pros
Households earn $20,117 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.5 pts lower (6.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 37°F
More college-educated — 31.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $345,300
Higher rents — median is $1,463/mo
Cost of living runs 16% higher than Hartford
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hartford
Cost of Living
16% cheaper
COL index 96.1 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Hartford
Median Home Value
$146k less
$198,900 vs $345,300
Hollywood
Median Income
$20,117
$61,958 vs $41,841/yr
Hollywood
Unemployment
4.5 pp lower
6.1% vs 10.6% unemployment
Hollywood
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 84.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hartford, CT | Hollywood, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.1 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $198,900 ✓ Lower | $345,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,154 ✓ Lower | $1,463⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $41,841 | $61,958 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 10.6%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter | 30.4 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% | 8.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 136⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 136⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C (80) | B- (92) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 17.5% | 31.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 74.7% | 88.9% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Hartford School District | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 36.8°F | 76.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.6°F | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 42.8" ✓ Drier | 65.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 51.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,057 | 152,764 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.1 | 41.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 25.6% | 56.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.1% ✓ More | 19.3% |
| Over 65 | 11.3% | 16.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hartford's cost of living index is 96.1 vs Hollywood's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Hartford is 16% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Hollywood leads 13 of 20 categories. Hartford wins 7 and Hollywood wins 13. 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 Hartford to Hollywood or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($198,900 vs $345,300 median home), income ($41,841 vs $61,958), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hartford, CT and Hollywood, FL are about 1,168 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.