Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hollywood, FL
VS
Independence, MO
🏆 Independence leads 11 of 20 categories
Hollywood
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,958 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
152,764 ✓ Larger
Independence
Missouri
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High
Population
122,218
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hollywood, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 38°F
More college-educated — 31.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $4,543 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $345,300
Higher rents — median is $1,463/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Independence
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $195k less ($150,800 vs $345,300)
Rent averages $443/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,463)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Hollywood
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Hollywood by $4,543/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Hollywood
Median Income
$4,543
$61,958 vs $57,415/yr
Independence
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Median Home Value
$195k less
$150,800 vs $345,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hollywood, FL | Independence, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $345,300⚠ High | $150,800 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,463⚠ High | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,958 ✓ Higher | $57,415 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 8.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 157⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 150⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 168⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (94) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.7% ✓ Higher | 19.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% | 90.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | INDEPENDENCE 30 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.1°F ✓ Warmer | 37.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.0" | 44.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 152,764 ✓ Larger | 122,218 |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 39.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.6% | 60.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | 22.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% | 18.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hollywood's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Independence's 93.3 (US average = 100).
Independence is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Independence leads 11 of 20 categories. Hollywood wins 9 and Independence 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 Hollywood to Independence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($345,300 vs $150,800 median home), income ($61,958 vs $57,415), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hollywood, FL and Independence, MO are about 1,220 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.