Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Gainesville, FL
VS
Pembroke Pines, FL
🏆 Gainesville leads 10 of 19 categories
Gainesville
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
96.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,783
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
142,414
Pembroke Pines
Florida
9
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.
Gainesville, FL
Pros
Homes cost $163k less ($216,600 vs $379,900)
Rent averages $636/mo less ($1,151 vs $1,787)
Commutes run 12 min shorter each way
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Pembroke Pines
More college-educated — 50.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 17.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pembroke Pines by $33,874/yr
Violent crime (738.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2703.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.7%)
Pembroke Pines, FL
Pros
Households earn $33,874 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.8 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 67°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $379,900
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Gainesville
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Gainesville
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 96.9 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Gainesville
Median Home Value
$163k less
$216,600 vs $379,900
Pembroke Pines
Median Income
$33,874
$77,657 vs $43,783/yr
Pembroke Pines
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.5% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Gainesville, FL | Pembroke Pines, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 96.9 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $216,600 ✓ Lower | $379,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,151 ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $43,783 | $77,657 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 18.8 min ✓ Shorter | 30.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 10.8% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 168⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 194⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 129⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (111) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 50.0% ✓ Higher | 36.1% |
| High School or Higher | 93.6% ✓ Higher | 93.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALACHUA | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.1°F | 76.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.1°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 54.6" ✓ Drier | 67.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 142,414 | 170,472 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 26.0 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 38.5% | 71.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 13.6% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 11.1% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Gainesville's cost of living index is 96.9 vs Pembroke Pines's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Gainesville is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Gainesville leads 10 of 19 categories. Gainesville wins 10 and Pembroke Pines wins 9. 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 Gainesville to Pembroke Pines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($216,600 vs $379,900 median home), income ($43,783 vs $77,657), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Gainesville, FL and Pembroke Pines, FL are about 281 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.