Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Lafayette, LA
VS
Pembroke Pines, FL
🏆 Pembroke Pines leads 10 of 19 categories
Lafayette
Louisiana
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
87.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,850
Violent Crime Index
281⚠ High
Population
121,706
Pembroke Pines
Florida
10
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.
Lafayette, LA
Pros
Rent averages $765/mo less ($1,022 vs $1,787)
Homes cost $145k less ($234,900 vs $379,900)
25% cheaper overall cost of living than Pembroke Pines
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 87.0)
More college-educated — 40.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Violent crime (1066.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Pembroke Pines by $18,807/yr
Property crime (4347.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.7%)
Pembroke Pines, FL
Pros
Households earn $18,807 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 62°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $379,900
Cost of living runs 25% higher than Lafayette
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Lafayette
Cost of Living
25% cheaper
COL index 87.0 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Lafayette
Median Home Value
$145k less
$234,900 vs $379,900
Pembroke Pines
Median Income
$18,807
$77,657 vs $58,850/yr
Pembroke Pines
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.1% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Lafayette, LA | Pembroke Pines, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 87.0 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $234,900 ✓ Lower | $379,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,022 ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $58,850 | $77,657 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.1%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 20.4 min ✓ Shorter | 30.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 8.4% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 251⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 281⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 207⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (100) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 17.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 40.0% ✓ Higher | 36.1% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Lafayette Parish | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 61.5°F | 76.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 91.0°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 64.7" ✓ Drier | 67.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 121,706 | 170,472 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 36.9 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 56.3% | 71.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 21.2% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 16.7% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Lafayette's cost of living index is 87.0 vs Pembroke Pines's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Lafayette is 25% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Pembroke Pines leads 10 of 19 categories. Lafayette wins 9 and Pembroke Pines wins 10. 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 Lafayette to Pembroke Pines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($234,900 vs $379,900 median home), income ($58,850 vs $77,657), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Lafayette, LA and Pembroke Pines, FL are about 768 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.