Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hollywood, FL
VS
Raleigh, NC
🏆 Raleigh leads 14 of 20 categories
Hollywood
Florida
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,958
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
152,764
Raleigh
North Carolina
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,631 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
465,517 ✓ Larger
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 52°F
Cons
Median income trails Raleigh by $16,673/yr
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Raleigh
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.5%)
Raleigh, NC
Pros
Households earn $16,673 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.5%)
More college-educated — 52.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Hollywood
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Rent averages $92/mo less ($1,371 vs $1,463)
Cons
Violent crime (488.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2819.2/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Raleigh
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Raleigh
Median Income
$16,673
$78,631 vs $61,958/yr
Raleigh
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hollywood, FL | Raleigh, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $345,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $347,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,463⚠ High | $1,371⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,958 | $78,631 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 23.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 20.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 131⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 134⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.7% | 52.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.1°F ✓ Warmer | 51.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 90.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.0" | 49.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 152,764 | 465,517 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.6% ✓ Higher | 51.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | 20.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 11.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hollywood's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Raleigh's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Raleigh is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Raleigh leads 14 of 20 categories. Hollywood wins 6 and Raleigh wins 14. 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 Raleigh or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($345,300 vs $347,000 median home), income ($61,958 vs $78,631), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hollywood, FL and Raleigh, NC are about 683 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.