Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hollywood, FL
VS
Roanoke, VA
🏆 Roanoke 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
Roanoke
Virginia
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$51,523
Violent Crime Index
163⚠ High
Population
99,213
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hollywood, FL
Pros
Households earn $10,435 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 47°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (6.1%)
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 21% higher than Roanoke
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Roanoke, VA
Pros
Homes cost $183k less ($162,000 vs $345,300)
Rent averages $546/mo less ($917 vs $1,463)
21% cheaper overall cost of living than Hollywood
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (620.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Hollywood by $10,435/yr
Property crime (4055.6/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Hollywood
Median Income
$10,435
$61,958 vs $51,523/yr
Hollywood
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
6.1% vs 6.6% unemployment
Roanoke
Cost of Living
21% cheaper
COL index 90.9 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Roanoke
Median Home Value
$183k less
$162,000 vs $345,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hollywood, FL | Roanoke, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 90.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $345,300⚠ High | $162,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,463⚠ High | $917 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,958 ✓ Higher | $51,523 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 20.9 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 175⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 163⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 193⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 12.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.7% ✓ Higher | 28.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% | 89.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Roanoke City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.1°F ✓ Warmer | 47.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.0" | 42.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 14.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 152,764 ✓ Larger | 99,213 |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 38.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.6% ✓ Higher | 52.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | 22.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% | 17.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hollywood's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Roanoke's 90.9 (US average = 100).
Roanoke is 21% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Roanoke leads 11 of 20 categories. Hollywood wins 9 and Roanoke 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 Roanoke or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($345,300 vs $162,000 median home), income ($61,958 vs $51,523), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hollywood, FL and Roanoke, VA are about 777 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.