Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hollywood, FL
VS
Surprise, AZ
🏆 Surprise leads 13 of 19 categories
Hollywood
Florida
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,958
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
152,764 ✓ Larger
Surprise
Arizona
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,756 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
29
Population
145,591
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hollywood, FL
Pros
Rent averages $359/mo less ($1,463 vs $1,822)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 105°F
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 65°F
Cons
Median income trails Surprise by $25,798/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Surprise
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.6%)
Surprise, AZ
Pros
Households earn $25,798 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (109.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.6%)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Hollywood
Smaller class sizes — 20.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,822/mo
Hot summers — July highs average 105°F
Key Differences at a Glance
Surprise
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 101.2 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Surprise
Median Income
$25,798
$87,756 vs $61,958/yr
Surprise
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.1% unemployment
Surprise
Summer Heat
15.0°F warmer
July avg high 104.6°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hollywood, FL | Surprise, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 101.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $345,300⚠ High ✓ Lower | $352,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,463⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,822⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,958 | $87,756 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 14.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 34 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 29 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 42 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 20.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.7% ✓ Higher | 31.0% |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Dysart Unified District (4243) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.1°F ✓ Warmer | 65.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 104.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.0" | 9.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 152,764 ✓ Larger | 145,591 |
| Median Age | 41.0 | 41.5 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.6% | 78.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% | 22.6% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hollywood's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Surprise's 101.2 (US average = 100).
Surprise is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Surprise leads 13 of 19 categories. Hollywood wins 6 and Surprise wins 13. 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 Surprise or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($345,300 vs $352,600 median home), income ($61,958 vs $87,756), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hollywood, FL and Surprise, AZ are about 1,997 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.