Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hollywood, FL
VS
San Tan Valley, AZ
🏆 San Tan Valley leads 11 of 19 categories
Hollywood
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,958
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
152,764 ✓ Larger
San Tan Valley
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$88,466 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
62
Population
101,207
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hollywood, FL
Pros
Rent averages $266/mo less ($1,463 vs $1,729)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 31.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 104°F
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 66°F
Cons
Median income trails San Tan Valley by $26,508/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $345,300
Cost of living runs 12% higher than San Tan Valley
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
San Tan Valley, AZ
Pros
Households earn $26,508 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (235.7 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.5%)
Homes cost $41k less ($304,000 vs $345,300)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Hollywood
Smaller class sizes — 19.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,729/mo
Longer commutes — 36.2 min average each way
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Key Differences at a Glance
San Tan Valley
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 100.0 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
San Tan Valley
Median Income
$26,508
$88,466 vs $61,958/yr
San Tan Valley
Median Home Value
$41k less
$304,000 vs $345,300
San Tan Valley
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
San Tan Valley
Summer Heat
14.6°F warmer
July avg high 104.2°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hollywood, FL | San Tan Valley, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 100.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $345,300⚠ High | $304,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,463⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,729⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,958 | $88,466 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 36.2 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 13.5% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 56 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 62 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 46 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 19.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.7% ✓ Higher | 22.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% | 92.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | J O Combs Unified School District (4445) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.1°F ✓ Warmer | 65.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 104.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.0" | 8.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 152,764 ✓ Larger | 101,207 |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.6% | 80.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | 28.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 11.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hollywood's cost of living index is 111.8 vs San Tan Valley's 100.0 (US average = 100).
San Tan Valley is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, San Tan Valley leads 11 of 19 categories. Hollywood wins 8 and San Tan Valley 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 San Tan Valley or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($345,300 vs $304,000 median home), income ($61,958 vs $88,466), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hollywood, FL and San Tan Valley, AZ are about 1,942 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.