Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hollywood, FL
VS
Montgomery, AL
🏆 Montgomery 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
Montgomery
Alabama
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,166
Violent Crime Index
156⚠ High
Population
199,819 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hollywood, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (6.1%)
Households earn $7,792 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 60°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $345,300
Higher rents — median is $1,463/mo
Cost of living runs 21% higher than Montgomery
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Montgomery, AL
Pros
Homes cost $203k less ($141,900 vs $345,300)
Rent averages $437/mo less ($1,026 vs $1,463)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Hollywood
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.8)
Smaller class sizes — 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (594.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Hollywood by $7,792/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 6.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hollywood
Median Income
$7,792
$61,958 vs $54,166/yr
Hollywood
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
6.1% vs 7.2% unemployment
Montgomery
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 90.8 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Montgomery
Median Home Value
$203k less
$141,900 vs $345,300
Montgomery
Summer Heat
4.6°F warmer
July avg high 94.2°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hollywood, FL | Montgomery, AL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 90.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $345,300⚠ High | $141,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,463⚠ High | $1,026 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,958 ✓ Higher | $54,166 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 19.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 6.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 136⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 156⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 106⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (93) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.7% | 33.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% ✓ Higher | 87.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Montgomery County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.1°F ✓ Warmer | 60.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 94.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.0" | 54.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 152,764 | 199,819 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 36.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.6% ✓ Higher | 53.5% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | 23.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 15.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hollywood's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Montgomery's 90.8 (US average = 100).
Montgomery is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Montgomery leads 11 of 20 categories. Hollywood wins 9 and Montgomery 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 Montgomery or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($345,300 vs $141,900 median home), income ($61,958 vs $54,166), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hollywood, FL and Montgomery, AL are about 571 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.