Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Charleston, SC
VS
Pembroke Pines, FL
🏆 Charleston leads 11 of 20 categories
Charleston
South Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,891 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
94
Population
149,960
Pembroke Pines
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,657
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
170,472 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Charleston, SC
Pros
More college-educated — 57.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $270/mo less ($1,517 vs $1,787)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.0 pts lower (3.7%)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
9% cheaper overall cost of living than Pembroke Pines
Households earn $6,234 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $438,900
Pembroke Pines, FL
Pros
Homes cost $59k less ($379,900 vs $438,900)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 58°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (4.7% vs 3.7%)
Cost of living runs 9% higher than Charleston
Key Differences at a Glance
Charleston
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 102.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Charleston
Median Income
$6,234
$83,891 vs $77,657/yr
Charleston
Unemployment
1.0 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.7% unemployment
Pembroke Pines
Median Home Value
$59k less
$379,900 vs $438,900
Pembroke Pines
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 87.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Charleston, SC | Pembroke Pines, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 102.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $438,900⚠ High | $379,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,517⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $83,891 ✓ Higher | $77,657 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter | 30.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 95 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 94 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 96 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (121) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 13.0:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 57.4% ✓ Higher | 36.1% |
| High School or Higher | 95.7% ✓ Higher | 93.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Charleston 01 | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 58.0°F | 76.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.5°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 52.2" ✓ Drier | 67.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 149,960 | 170,472 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.3 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.6% | 71.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.7% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.3% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Charleston's cost of living index is 102.4 vs Pembroke Pines's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Charleston is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Charleston leads 11 of 20 categories. Charleston wins 11 and Pembroke Pines wins 9. 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 Charleston to Pembroke Pines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($438,900 vs $379,900 median home), income ($83,891 vs $77,657), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Charleston, SC and Pembroke Pines, FL are about 471 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.