Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hollywood, FL
VS
Newark, NJ
🏆 Hollywood leads 14 of 20 categories
Hollywood
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,958 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
152,764
Newark
New Jersey
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$46,460
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
307,355 ✓ 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 4.6 pts lower (6.1%)
Households earn $15,498 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 39°F
More college-educated — 31.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,463/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Pricier housing — median home is $345,300
Newark, NJ
Pros
Rent averages $190/mo less ($1,273 vs $1,463)
Homes cost $33k less ($312,300 vs $345,300)
Smaller class sizes — 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hollywood by $15,498/yr
Violent crime (581.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Higher unemployment (10.7% vs 6.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hollywood
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Hollywood
Median Income
$15,498
$61,958 vs $46,460/yr
Hollywood
Unemployment
4.6 pp lower
6.1% vs 10.7% unemployment
Newark
Median Home Value
$33k less
$312,300 vs $345,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hollywood, FL | Newark, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $345,300⚠ High | $312,300⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,463⚠ High | $1,273 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,958 ✓ Higher | $46,460 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 10.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 4.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 93 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 15.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.7% ✓ Higher | 17.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% ✓ Higher | 77.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Newark Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.1°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.0" | 50.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 152,764 | 307,355 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.6% ✓ Higher | 23.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | 24.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 10.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hollywood's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Newark's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Hollywood is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Hollywood leads 14 of 20 categories. Hollywood wins 14 and Newark wins 6. 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 Newark or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($345,300 vs $312,300 median home), income ($61,958 vs $46,460), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hollywood, FL and Newark, NJ are about 1,072 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.