Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pembroke Pines, FL
VS
Phoenix, AZ
🏆 Phoenix leads 11 of 20 categories
Pembroke Pines
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,657 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
170,472
Phoenix
Arizona
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,092
Violent Crime Index
210⚠ High
Population
1,609,456 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pembroke Pines, FL
Pros
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.7%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 92°F vs 104°F
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 65°F
More college-educated — 36.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $5,565 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Phoenix
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Pricier housing — median home is $379,900
Phoenix, AZ
Pros
Rent averages $465/mo less ($1,322 vs $1,787)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Pembroke Pines
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Homes cost $40k less ($340,200 vs $379,900)
Smaller class sizes — 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (799.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Hot summers — July highs average 104°F
Median income trails Pembroke Pines by $5,565/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Pembroke Pines
Median Income
$5,565
$77,657 vs $72,092/yr
Pembroke Pines
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.2% unemployment
Phoenix
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Phoenix
Median Home Value
$40k less
$340,200 vs $379,900
Phoenix
Summer Heat
12.3°F warmer
July avg high 104.0°F vs 91.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pembroke Pines, FL | Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $379,900⚠ High | $340,200⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,787⚠ High | $1,322 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,657 ✓ Higher | $72,092 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 25.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% | 14.4% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 171⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 210⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 111⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (98) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 15.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.1% ✓ Higher | 31.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 83.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Paradise Valley Unified District (4241) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.9°F ✓ Warmer | 65.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F | 104.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.0" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 170,472 | 1,609,456 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 42.9 ✓ Older | 34.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.0% ✓ Higher | 56.4% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.9% ✓ More | 11.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pembroke Pines's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Phoenix's 98.4 (US average = 100).
Phoenix is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Phoenix leads 11 of 20 categories. Pembroke Pines wins 9 and Phoenix 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 Pembroke Pines to Phoenix or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($379,900 vs $340,200 median home), income ($77,657 vs $72,092), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pembroke Pines, FL and Phoenix, AZ are about 1,965 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.