Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Mesa, AZ
VS
Pembroke Pines, FL
🏆 Mesa leads 10 of 18 categories
Mesa
Arizona
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$73,766
Violent Crime Index
127⚠ High
Population
503,390 ✓ Larger
Pembroke Pines
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,657 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
170,472
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Mesa, AZ
Pros
Rent averages $435/mo less ($1,352 vs $1,787)
Homes cost $52k less ($327,700 vs $379,900)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Pembroke Pines
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 18.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (482.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Median income trails Pembroke Pines by $3,891/yr
Pembroke Pines, FL
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 106°F
More college-educated — 36.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 68°F
Households earn $3,891 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $379,900
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Mesa
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Mesa
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Mesa
Median Home Value
$52k less
$327,700 vs $379,900
Mesa
Summer Heat
14.2°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 91.7°F
Pembroke Pines
Median Income
$3,891
$77,657 vs $73,766/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Mesa, AZ | Pembroke Pines, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $327,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $379,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,352⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $73,766 | $77,657 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 24.8 min ✓ Shorter | 30.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 14.6% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 104⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 127⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 70 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (88) | B- (95) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 18.3:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 36.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.7% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Mesa Unified District (4235) | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 67.5°F | 76.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer | 91.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 9.8" ✓ Drier | 67.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 503,390 ✓ Larger | 170,472 |
| Median Age | 36.8 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 63.2% | 71.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 23.0% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 16.9% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Mesa's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Pembroke Pines's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Mesa is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 18 decided categories above, Mesa leads 10 of 18 categories. Mesa wins 10 and Pembroke Pines wins 8. 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 Mesa to Pembroke Pines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($327,700 vs $379,900 median home), income ($73,766 vs $77,657), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Mesa, AZ and Pembroke Pines, FL are about 1,943 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.