Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hollywood, FL
VS
Santa Maria, CA
🏆 Hollywood leads 14 of 19 categories
Hollywood
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,958
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
152,764 ✓ Larger
Santa Maria
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$81,237 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
174⚠ High
Population
109,543
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hollywood, FL
Pros
Homes cost $93k less ($345,300 vs $438,100)
Rent averages $305/mo less ($1,463 vs $1,768)
More college-educated — 31.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 65°F
Cons
Median income trails Santa Maria by $19,279/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Longer commutes — 30.4 min average each way
Santa Maria, CA
Pros
Households earn $19,279 more per year on average
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 90°F
Cons
Violent crime (660.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $438,100
Higher rents — median is $1,768/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hollywood
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 113.5 (100 = US avg)
Hollywood
Median Home Value
$93k less
$345,300 vs $438,100
Hollywood
Summer Heat
16.3°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 73.3°F
Santa Maria
Median Income
$19,279
$81,237 vs $61,958/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hollywood, FL | Santa Maria, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $345,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $438,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,463⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,768⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,958 | $81,237 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 22.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 4.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 140⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 174⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) ✓ Better | C- (62) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 21.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.7% ✓ Higher | 14.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Santa Maria-Bonita |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.1°F ✓ Warmer | 64.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 73.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.0" | 13.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 152,764 ✓ Larger | 109,543 |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 29.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.6% ✓ Higher | 51.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | 31.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hollywood's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Santa Maria's 113.5 (US average = 100).
Hollywood is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Hollywood leads 14 of 19 categories. Hollywood wins 14 and Santa Maria wins 5. 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 Santa Maria or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($345,300 vs $438,100 median home), income ($61,958 vs $81,237), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hollywood, FL and Santa Maria, CA are about 2,458 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.