Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hollywood, FL
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Topeka leads 12 of 20 categories
Hollywood
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,958 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
152,764 ✓ Larger
Topeka
Kansas
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,052
Violent Crime Index
225⚠ High
Population
126,431
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Hollywood, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 76°F vs 40°F
Households earn $7,906 more per year on average
More college-educated — 31.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $345,300
Higher rents — median is $1,463/mo
Cost of living runs 26% higher than Topeka
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $221k less ($124,700 vs $345,300)
Rent averages $537/mo less ($926 vs $1,463)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Hollywood
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (5.0%)
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Cons
Violent crime (856.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Hollywood by $7,906/yr
Property crime (3642.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Hollywood
Median Income
$7,906
$61,958 vs $54,052/yr
Topeka
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$221k less
$124,700 vs $345,300
Topeka
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
5.0% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hollywood, FL | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $345,300⚠ High | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,463⚠ High | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,958 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 5.0%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.7% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% | 91.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.1°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 88.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.0" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 152,764 ✓ Larger | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 37.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.6% | 59.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% | 18.0% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hollywood's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Topeka leads 12 of 20 categories. Hollywood wins 8 and Topeka wins 12. 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 Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($345,300 vs $124,700 median home), income ($61,958 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hollywood, FL and Topeka, KS are about 1,271 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.