Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brownsville, TX
VS
Pembroke Pines, FL
🏆 Pembroke Pines leads 10 of 19 categories
Brownsville
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.2 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$46,735
Violent Crime Index
120⚠ High
Population
186,999 ✓ Larger
Pembroke Pines
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,657 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
170,472
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brownsville, TX
Pros
Homes cost $267k less ($112,600 vs $379,900)
Rent averages $915/mo less ($872 vs $1,787)
27% cheaper overall cost of living than Pembroke Pines
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.2)
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pembroke Pines by $30,922/yr
Violent crime (456.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.7%)
Pembroke Pines, FL
Pros
Households earn $30,922 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.7%)
More college-educated — 36.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 70°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $379,900
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Cost of living runs 27% higher than Brownsville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brownsville
Cost of Living
27% cheaper
COL index 85.2 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Brownsville
Median Home Value
$267k less
$112,600 vs $379,900
Pembroke Pines
Median Income
$30,922
$77,657 vs $46,735/yr
Pembroke Pines
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.3% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brownsville, TX | Pembroke Pines, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 85.2 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $112,600 ✓ Lower | $379,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $872 ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $46,735 | $77,657 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 6.6% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 109⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 120⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 20.9% | 36.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 69.1% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWNSVILLE ISD | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.4°F | 76.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.9°F ✓ Warmer | 91.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 28.7" ✓ Drier | 67.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 186,999 ✓ Larger | 170,472 |
| Median Age | 30.7 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 71.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 28.9% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brownsville's cost of living index is 85.2 vs Pembroke Pines's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Brownsville is 27% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Pembroke Pines leads 10 of 19 categories. Brownsville wins 9 and Pembroke Pines 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 Brownsville to Pembroke Pines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($112,600 vs $379,900 median home), income ($46,735 vs $77,657), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brownsville, TX and Pembroke Pines, FL are about 1,062 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.