Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Hollywood, FL
VS
Virginia Beach, VA
🏆 Virginia Beach leads 14 of 20 categories
Hollywood
Florida
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,958
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
152,764
Virginia Beach
Virginia
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$87,544 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
24
Population
457,900 ✓ Larger
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 50°F
Rent averages $105/mo less ($1,463 vs $1,568)
Cons
Median income trails Virginia Beach by $25,586/yr
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Virginia Beach
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.3%)
Virginia Beach, VA
Pros
Households earn $25,586 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (92.3 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.8 pts lower (4.3%)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Hollywood
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 39.8% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,568/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Virginia Beach
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Virginia Beach
Median Income
$25,586
$87,544 vs $61,958/yr
Virginia Beach
Unemployment
1.8 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Hollywood, FL | Virginia Beach, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $345,300⚠ High | $343,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,463⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,568⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $61,958 | $87,544 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.4 min⚠ High | 23.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 8.8% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 46 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 24 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 78 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (92) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.7% | 39.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.9% | 94.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Virginia Beach City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.1°F ✓ Warmer | 50.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F ✓ Warmer | 87.4°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.0" | 54.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 152,764 | 457,900 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.0 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.6% | 64.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | 22.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.9% ✓ More | 15.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Hollywood's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Virginia Beach's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Virginia Beach is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Virginia Beach leads 14 of 20 categories. Hollywood wins 6 and Virginia Beach wins 14. 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 Virginia Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($345,300 vs $343,700 median home), income ($61,958 vs $87,544), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Hollywood, FL and Virginia Beach, VA are about 781 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.