Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fairfield, CA
VS
Pembroke Pines, FL
🏆 Pembroke Pines leads 15 of 19 categories
Fairfield
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420
Pembroke Pines
Florida
15
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.
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $21,200 more per year on average
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Pembroke Pines
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $546,200
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.7%)
Pembroke Pines, FL
Pros
Homes cost $166k less ($379,900 vs $546,200)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.7%)
Rent averages $260/mo less ($1,787 vs $2,047)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 57°F
More college-educated — 36.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 21.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $21,200/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Fairfield
Key Differences at a Glance
Fairfield
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Fairfield
Median Income
$21,200
$98,857 vs $77,657/yr
Pembroke Pines
Median Home Value
$166k less
$379,900 vs $546,200
Pembroke Pines
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fairfield, CA | Pembroke Pines, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $546,200⚠ High | $379,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,047⚠ High | $1,787⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $98,857 ✓ Higher | $77,657 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 32.3 min⚠ High | 30.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 9.8% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 111⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 131⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (85) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 24.1:1 | 21.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 27.8% | 36.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 87.0% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Fairfield-Suisun Unified | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 56.6°F | 76.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 24.5" ✓ Drier | 67.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 119,420 | 170,472 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 35.8 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.3% | 71.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.7% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 13.9% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fairfield's cost of living index is 109.2 vs Pembroke Pines's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Fairfield is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Pembroke Pines leads 15 of 19 categories. Fairfield wins 4 and Pembroke Pines wins 15. 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 Fairfield to Pembroke Pines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($546,200 vs $379,900 median home), income ($98,857 vs $77,657), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fairfield, CA and Pembroke Pines, FL are about 2,557 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.