Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norfolk, VA
VS
Pembroke Pines, FL
🏆 Pembroke Pines leads 11 of 20 categories
Norfolk
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,998
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
236,973 ✓ Larger
Pembroke Pines
Florida
11
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.
Norfolk, VA
Pros
Rent averages $599/mo less ($1,188 vs $1,787)
Homes cost $126k less ($254,200 vs $379,900)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Pembroke Pines
Commutes run 8 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 12.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (469.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Pembroke Pines by $16,659/yr
Property crime (3772.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.7% vs 4.7%)
Pembroke Pines, FL
Pros
Households earn $16,659 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 50°F
More college-educated — 36.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Pricier housing — median home is $379,900
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Norfolk
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Norfolk
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Norfolk
Median Home Value
$126k less
$254,200 vs $379,900
Pembroke Pines
Median Income
$16,659
$77,657 vs $60,998/yr
Pembroke Pines
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.7% unemployment
Pembroke Pines
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 88.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norfolk, VA | Pembroke Pines, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $254,200 ✓ Lower | $379,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,188 ✓ Lower | $1,787⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $60,998 | $77,657 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.7%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 22.7 min ✓ Shorter | 30.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 7.3% | 10.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 146⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 124⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 180⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (103) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 32.2% | 36.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 89.3% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norfolk City Public Schools | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 50.0°F | 76.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 88.7°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.7" ✓ Drier | 67.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 3.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 236,973 ✓ Larger | 170,472 |
| Median Age | 32.2 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 44.8% | 71.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.3% ✓ More | 20.2% |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norfolk's cost of living index is 97.4 vs Pembroke Pines's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Norfolk is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Pembroke Pines leads 11 of 20 categories. Norfolk wins 9 and Pembroke Pines 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 Norfolk to Pembroke Pines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($254,200 vs $379,900 median home), income ($60,998 vs $77,657), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norfolk, VA and Pembroke Pines, FL are about 791 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.