Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Bellingham, WA
VS
Pembroke Pines, FL
🏆 Pembroke Pines leads 11 of 20 categories
Bellingham
Washington
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,026
Violent Crime Index
92
Population
91,353
Pembroke Pines
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,657 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
170,472 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Bellingham, WA
Pros
Rent averages $402/mo less ($1,385 vs $1,787)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 46.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 75°F vs 92°F
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Pembroke Pines
Smaller class sizes — 17.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $528,600
Median income trails Pembroke Pines by $13,631/yr
Property crime (3756.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pembroke Pines, FL
Pros
Homes cost $149k less ($379,900 vs $528,600)
Households earn $13,631 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Longer commutes — 30.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Bellingham
Key Differences at a Glance
Bellingham
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 104.1 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Pembroke Pines
Median Income
$13,631
$77,657 vs $64,026/yr
Pembroke Pines
Median Home Value
$149k less
$379,900 vs $528,600
Pembroke Pines
Summer Heat
16.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 75.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Bellingham, WA | Pembroke Pines, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 104.1⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $528,600⚠ High | $379,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,385⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $64,026 | $77,657 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.8%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.7 min ✓ Shorter | 30.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 12.6% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 179⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 46.1% ✓ Higher | 36.1% |
| High School or Higher | 94.6% ✓ Higher | 93.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Bellingham School District | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.6°F | 76.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 75.1°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 38.2" ✓ Drier | 67.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.4" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,353 | 170,472 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 33.7 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 45.6% | 71.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.5% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Bellingham's cost of living index is 104.1 vs Pembroke Pines's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Bellingham is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Pembroke Pines leads 11 of 20 categories. Bellingham wins 9 and Pembroke Pines wins 11. 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 Bellingham to Pembroke Pines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($528,600 vs $379,900 median home), income ($64,026 vs $77,657), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Bellingham, WA and Pembroke Pines, FL are about 2,744 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.