Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Independence, MO
VS
Pembroke Pines, FL
🏆 Pembroke Pines leads 13 of 20 categories
Independence
Missouri
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,415
Violent Crime Index
150⚠ High
Population
122,218
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.
Independence, MO
Pros
Homes cost $229k less ($150,800 vs $379,900)
Rent averages $767/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,787)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Pembroke Pines
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.3)
Smaller class sizes — 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pembroke Pines by $20,242/yr
Violent crime (571.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3523.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.7%)
Pembroke Pines, FL
Pros
Households earn $20,242 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 38°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.7%)
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 19% higher than Independence
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Independence
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 93.3 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Independence
Median Home Value
$229k less
$150,800 vs $379,900
Pembroke Pines
Median Income
$20,242
$77,657 vs $57,415/yr
Pembroke Pines
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.2% unemployment
Pembroke Pines
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 86.9°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Independence, MO | Pembroke Pines, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 93.3 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $150,800 ✓ Lower | $379,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,020 ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $57,415 | $77,657 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.9 min ✓ Shorter | 30.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.2% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 157⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 150⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 168⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (94) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 14.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 19.5% | 36.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.0% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | INDEPENDENCE 30 | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 37.6°F | 76.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.9°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 44.7" ✓ Drier | 67.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.2" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 122,218 | 170,472 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.5 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 60.5% | 71.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 22.6% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 18.4% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Independence's cost of living index is 93.3 vs Pembroke Pines's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Independence is 18% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Pembroke Pines leads 13 of 20 categories. Independence 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 Independence to Pembroke Pines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($150,800 vs $379,900 median home), income ($57,415 vs $77,657), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Independence, MO and Pembroke Pines, FL are about 1,214 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.