Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Erie, PA
VS
Pembroke Pines, FL
🏆 Pembroke Pines leads 13 of 20 categories
Erie
Pennsylvania
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
91.5 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,135
Violent Crime Index
99
Population
94,826
Pembroke Pines
Florida
13
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.
Erie, PA
Pros
Homes cost $278k less ($101,500 vs $379,900)
Rent averages $978/mo less ($809 vs $1,787)
20% cheaper overall cost of living than Pembroke Pines
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 91.5)
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 92°F
Cons
Median income trails Pembroke Pines by $34,522/yr
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 4.7%)
Snowy winters — about 104" of snow per year
Pembroke Pines, FL
Pros
Households earn $34,522 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.1 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 35°F
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 20% higher than Erie
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Erie
Cost of Living
20% cheaper
COL index 91.5 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Erie
Median Home Value
$278k less
$101,500 vs $379,900
Pembroke Pines
Median Income
$34,522
$77,657 vs $43,135/yr
Pembroke Pines
Unemployment
2.1 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.8% unemployment
Pembroke Pines
Summer Heat
10.6°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 81.1°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Erie, PA | Pembroke Pines, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 91.5 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $101,500 ✓ Lower | $379,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $809 ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,135 | $77,657 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.8%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.2 min ✓ Shorter | 30.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 5.8% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 96 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 99 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 92 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (90) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 22.4% | 36.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Erie City SD | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 35.2°F | 76.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 81.1°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 43.0" ✓ Drier | 67.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 104.3" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 94,826 | 170,472 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.0 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 52.6% | 71.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.4% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 15.5% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Erie's cost of living index is 91.5 vs Pembroke Pines's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Erie is 20% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Pembroke Pines leads 13 of 20 categories. Erie wins 7 and Pembroke Pines wins 13. 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 Erie to Pembroke Pines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($101,500 vs $379,900 median home), income ($43,135 vs $77,657), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Erie, PA and Pembroke Pines, FL are about 1,113 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.