Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Cedar Rapids, IA
VS
Pembroke Pines, FL
🏆 It's a dead heat — 10 categories each
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,895
Violent Crime Index
69
Population
136,929
Pembroke Pines
Florida
10
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.
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Homes cost $212k less ($167,900 vs $379,900)
Rent averages $901/mo less ($886 vs $1,787)
22% cheaper overall cost of living than Pembroke Pines
Commutes run 13 min shorter each way
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (3.9%)
Cons
Median income trails Pembroke Pines by $10,762/yr
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Pembroke Pines, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 28°F
Households earn $10,762 more per year on average
More college-educated — 36.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $379,900
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Cost of living runs 22% higher than Cedar Rapids
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
22% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$212k less
$167,900 vs $379,900
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
3.9% vs 4.7% unemployment
Pembroke Pines
Median Income
$10,762
$77,657 vs $66,895/yr
Pembroke Pines
Summer Heat
8.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 82.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Cedar Rapids, IA | Pembroke Pines, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $167,900 ✓ Lower | $379,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $886 ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $66,895 | $77,657 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter | 30.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.6% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 93 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 69 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (104) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.9% | 36.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 94.0% ✓ Higher | 93.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cedar Rapids Comm School District | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 27.9°F | 76.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 82.8°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 35.9" ✓ Drier | 67.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 136,929 | 170,472 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.0 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 69.6% | 71.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.5% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 16.2% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Cedar Rapids's cost of living index is 90.0 vs Pembroke Pines's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 22% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 10 categories each. Cedar Rapids wins 10 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 Cedar Rapids to Pembroke Pines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($167,900 vs $379,900 median home), income ($66,895 vs $77,657), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Cedar Rapids, IA and Pembroke Pines, FL are about 1,277 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.