Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Costa Mesa, CA
VS
Pembroke Pines, FL
🏆 Pembroke Pines leads 12 of 19 categories
Costa Mesa
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$104,981 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
111,490
Pembroke Pines
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Costa Mesa, CA
Pros
Households earn $27,324 more per year on average
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 92°F
More college-educated — 42.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 18.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $959,800
Violent crime (737.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,268/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Pembroke Pines, FL
Pros
Homes cost $580k less ($379,900 vs $959,800)
Rent averages $481/mo less ($1,787 vs $2,268)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 67°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Costa Mesa
Cons
Median income trails Costa Mesa by $27,324/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Longer commutes — 30.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Costa Mesa
Median Income
$27,324
$104,981 vs $77,657/yr
Pembroke Pines
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Pembroke Pines
Median Home Value
$580k less
$379,900 vs $959,800
Pembroke Pines
Summer Heat
12.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 78.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Costa Mesa, CA | Pembroke Pines, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $959,800⚠ High | $379,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,268⚠ High | $1,787⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $104,981 ✓ Higher | $77,657 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.0%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.9 min ✓ Shorter | 30.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 16.9% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 170⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 135⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (102) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.5% ✓ Higher | 36.1% |
| High School or Higher | 87.9% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Newport-Mesa Unified | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.0°F | 76.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 78.9°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 11.2" ✓ Drier | 67.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 111,490 | 170,472 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.4 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 39.7% | 71.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.9% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 13.0% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Costa Mesa's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Pembroke Pines's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Pembroke Pines is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Pembroke Pines leads 12 of 19 categories. Costa Mesa wins 7 and Pembroke Pines wins 12. 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 Costa Mesa to Pembroke Pines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($959,800 vs $379,900 median home), income ($104,981 vs $77,657), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Costa Mesa, CA and Pembroke Pines, FL are about 2,300 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.
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