Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hollywood, FL
VS
Rochester, NY
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Hollywood
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,958 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
152,764
Rochester
New York
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.7 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$44,156
Violent Crime Index
153⚠ High
Population
210,992 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hollywood, FL
Pros
Households earn $17,802 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.4 pts lower (6.1%)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 33°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $345,300
Higher rents — median is $1,463/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Rochester
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Rochester, NY
Pros
Homes cost $234k less ($111,400 vs $345,300)
Rent averages $468/mo less ($995 vs $1,463)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Hollywood
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 10.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Hollywood by $17,802/yr
Violent crime (582.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3289.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.5% vs 6.1%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hollywood
Median Income
$17,802
$61,958 vs $44,156/yr
Hollywood
Unemployment
2.4 pp lower
6.1% vs 8.5% unemployment
Hollywood
Summer Heat
7.1°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 82.5°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.7 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Home Value
$234k less
$111,400 vs $345,300
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hollywood, FL | Rochester, NY |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 97.7 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $345,300⚠ High | $111,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,463⚠ High | $995 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,958 ✓ Higher | $44,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 9.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 155⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 153⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 157⚠ 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 | 10.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.7% ✓ Higher | 29.4% |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% ✓ Higher | 83.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | ROCHESTER CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.1°F ✓ Warmer | 33.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.0" | 35.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 102.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 152,764 | 210,992 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.6% ✓ Higher | 37.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 12.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hollywood's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Rochester's 97.7 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Hollywood wins 10 and Rochester wins 10. 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($345,300 vs $111,400 median home), income ($61,958 vs $44,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hollywood, FL and Rochester, NY are about 1,193 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.