Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pasadena, CA
VS
Pembroke Pines, FL
🏆 Pembroke Pines leads 12 of 19 categories
Pasadena
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554
Pembroke Pines
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
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.
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $20,161 more per year on average
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Pembroke Pines, FL
Pros
Homes cost $602k less ($379,900 vs $981,600)
Rent averages $313/mo less ($1,787 vs $2,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 68°F
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $20,161/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Key Differences at a Glance
Pasadena
Median Income
$20,161
$97,818 vs $77,657/yr
Pembroke Pines
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Pembroke Pines
Median Home Value
$602k less
$379,900 vs $981,600
Pembroke Pines
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.2% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pasadena, CA | Pembroke Pines, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $981,600⚠ High | $379,900⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,100⚠ High | $1,787⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $97,818 ✓ Higher | $77,657 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.2%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 20.2% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 127⚠ High | — |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | — |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 128⚠ High | — |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B+ (105) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 54.5% ✓ Higher | 36.1% |
| High School or Higher | 89.6% | 93.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Pasadena Unified | BROWARD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 68.1°F | 76.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.1°F | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.1" ✓ Drier | 67.0" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 137,554 | 170,472 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.9 | 42.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.1% | 71.0% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 20.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 16.8% | 18.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pasadena's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Pembroke Pines's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Pembroke Pines is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Pembroke Pines leads 12 of 19 categories. Pasadena wins 7 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 Pasadena to Pembroke Pines or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($981,600 vs $379,900 median home), income ($97,818 vs $77,657), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pasadena, CA and Pembroke Pines, FL are about 2,315 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.