Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hollywood, FL
VS
Santa Monica, CA
🏆 Santa Monica leads 10 of 19 categories
Hollywood
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,958
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
152,764 ✓ Larger
Santa Monica
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$106,797 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
205⚠ High
Population
92,168
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hollywood, FL
Pros
Homes cost $1310k less ($345,300 vs $1,654,800)
Rent averages $764/mo less ($1,463 vs $2,227)
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 62°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Santa Monica
Cons
Median income trails Santa Monica by $44,839/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Longer commutes — 30.4 min average each way
Santa Monica, CA
Pros
Households earn $44,839 more per year on average
More college-educated — 67.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 69°F vs 90°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,654,800
Higher rents — median is $2,227/mo
Violent crime (778.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Hollywood
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Hollywood
Median Home Value
$1310k less
$345,300 vs $1,654,800
Hollywood
Summer Heat
20.2°F warmer
July avg high 89.6°F vs 69.4°F
Santa Monica
Median Income
$44,839
$106,797 vs $61,958/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hollywood, FL | Santa Monica, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $345,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,654,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,463⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,227⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,958 | $106,797 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 25.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 27.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 214⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 205⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 228⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | A- (114) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 18.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.7% | 67.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% | 94.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Santa Monica-Malibu Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.1°F ✓ Warmer | 62.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 69.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.0" | 12.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 152,764 ✓ Larger | 92,168 |
| Median Age | 41.0 | 42.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.6% ✓ Higher | 28.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% ✓ More | 15.0% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% | 18.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hollywood's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Santa Monica's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Hollywood is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Santa Monica leads 10 of 19 categories. Hollywood wins 9 and Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($345,300 vs $1,654,800 median home), income ($61,958 vs $106,797), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hollywood, FL and Santa Monica, CA are about 2,344 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.