Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Norwalk, CT
VS
Pembroke Pines, FL
🏆 Pembroke Pines leads 12 of 20 categories
Norwalk
Connecticut
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$97,879 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22
Population
91,050
Pembroke Pines
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,657
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
170,472 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Norwalk, CT
Pros
Households earn $20,222 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (85.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 42.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 92°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Pembroke Pines
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $491,800
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.7%)
Pembroke Pines, FL
Pros
Homes cost $112k less ($379,900 vs $491,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 38°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.7%)
Cons
Median income trails Norwalk by $20,222/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Longer commutes — 30.6 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Norwalk
Key Differences at a Glance
Norwalk
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 106.5 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Norwalk
Median Income
$20,222
$97,879 vs $77,657/yr
Pembroke Pines
Median Home Value
$112k less
$379,900 vs $491,800
Pembroke Pines
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.9% unemployment
Pembroke Pines
Summer Heat
6.9°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 84.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Norwalk, CT | Pembroke Pines, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 106.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $491,800⚠ High | $379,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,861⚠ High | $1,787⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,879 ✓ Higher | $77,657 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.3 min ✓ Shorter | 30.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 11.4% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 42 | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 22 | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (113) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 12.5:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 42.6% ✓ Higher | 36.1% |
| High School or Higher | 88.6% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Norwalk School District | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.0°F | 76.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 84.8°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 51.4" ✓ Drier | 67.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 34.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 91,050 | 170,472 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 40.0 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 54.8% | 71.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.4% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 15.8% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Norwalk's cost of living index is 106.5 vs Pembroke Pines's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Norwalk is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Pembroke Pines leads 12 of 20 categories. Norwalk wins 8 and Pembroke Pines wins 12. 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 Norwalk to Pembroke Pines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($491,800 vs $379,900 median home), income ($97,879 vs $77,657), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Norwalk, CT and Pembroke Pines, FL are about 1,114 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.