Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Fort Lauderdale, FL
VS
Germantown, MD
🏆 Germantown leads 11 of 20 categories
Fort Lauderdale
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$75,376
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
182,673 ✓ Larger
Germantown
Maryland
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$109,268 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
90,210
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 39°F
Rent averages $281/mo less ($1,627 vs $1,908)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Germantown by $33,892/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Pricier housing — median home is $417,600
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Germantown
Germantown, MD
Pros
Households earn $33,892 more per year on average
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 91°F
Homes cost $24k less ($393,700 vs $417,600)
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Fort Lauderdale
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,908/mo
Longer commutes — 33.6 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Fort Lauderdale
Summer Heat
6.2°F warmer
July avg high 90.5°F vs 84.3°F
Germantown
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 108.6 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Germantown
Median Income
$33,892
$109,268 vs $75,376/yr
Germantown
Median Home Value
$24k less
$393,700 vs $417,600
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Germantown, MD |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 108.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $417,600⚠ High | $393,700⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,627⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,908⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $75,376 | $109,268 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.4%⚠ High | 5.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.3 min ✓ Shorter | 33.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.0% | 16.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (98) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.3% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Montgomery County Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.6°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F ✓ Warmer | 84.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 63.0" | 46.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 32.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 182,673 ✓ Larger | 90,210 |
| Median Age | 43.2 ✓ Older | 36.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.2% | 65.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 16.9% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 19.3% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Fort Lauderdale's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Germantown's 108.6 (US average = 100).
Germantown is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Germantown leads 11 of 20 categories. Fort Lauderdale wins 9 and Germantown wins 11. 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 Fort Lauderdale to Germantown or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($417,600 vs $393,700 median home), income ($75,376 vs $109,268), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Fort Lauderdale, FL and Germantown, MD are about 916 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.