Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Clearwater, FL
VS
Pembroke Pines, FL
🏆 Clearwater leads 10 of 18 categories
Clearwater
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,358
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
116,984
Pembroke Pines
Florida
8
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.
Clearwater, FL
Pros
Homes cost $92k less ($287,900 vs $379,900)
Rent averages $398/mo less ($1,389 vs $1,787)
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Pembroke Pines
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pembroke Pines by $18,299/yr
Pembroke Pines, FL
Pros
Households earn $18,299 more per year on average
More college-educated — 36.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 71°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $379,900
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Clearwater
Key Differences at a Glance
Clearwater
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Clearwater
Median Home Value
$92k less
$287,900 vs $379,900
Pembroke Pines
Median Income
$18,299
$77,657 vs $59,358/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Clearwater, FL | Pembroke Pines, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $287,900 ✓ Lower | $379,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,389⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $59,358 | $77,657 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter | 30.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.4% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 99 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 104⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 90 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (101) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.9% | 36.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PINELLAS | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 70.6°F | 76.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.3°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 56.1" ✓ Drier | 67.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 116,984 | 170,472 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 46.0 ✓ Older | 42.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 58.8% | 71.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 23.5% ✓ More | 18.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Clearwater's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Pembroke Pines's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Clearwater is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 18 decided categories above, Clearwater leads 10 of 18 categories. Clearwater wins 10 and Pembroke Pines wins 8. 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 Clearwater to Pembroke Pines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($287,900 vs $379,900 median home), income ($59,358 vs $77,657), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Clearwater, FL and Pembroke Pines, FL are about 202 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.