Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pembroke Pines, FL
VS
Portsmouth, VA
🏆 Pembroke Pines leads 13 of 20 categories
Pembroke Pines
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,657 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
170,472 ✓ Larger
Portsmouth
Virginia
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,154
Violent Crime Index
198⚠ High
Population
97,384
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pembroke Pines, FL
Pros
Households earn $20,503 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 49°F
More college-educated — 36.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $379,900
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Portsmouth
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Portsmouth, VA
Pros
Homes cost $167k less ($213,300 vs $379,900)
Rent averages $562/mo less ($1,225 vs $1,787)
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Pembroke Pines
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 13.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pembroke Pines by $20,503/yr
Violent crime (752.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3860.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Pembroke Pines
Median Income
$20,503
$77,657 vs $57,154/yr
Pembroke Pines
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.7% vs 6.6% unemployment
Pembroke Pines
Summer Heat
3.7°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 88.0°F
Portsmouth
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 97.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Portsmouth
Median Home Value
$167k less
$213,300 vs $379,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pembroke Pines, FL | Portsmouth, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 97.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $379,900⚠ High | $213,300 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,787⚠ High | $1,225 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,657 ✓ Higher | $57,154 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 23.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% ✓ Higher | 6.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 192⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 198⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 184⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | B- (94) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 13.7:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.1% ✓ Higher | 21.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 89.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Portsmouth City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.9°F ✓ Warmer | 48.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 88.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.0" | 50.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 170,472 ✓ Larger | 97,384 |
| Median Age | 42.9 ✓ Older | 35.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.0% ✓ Higher | 56.1% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | 23.1% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.9% ✓ More | 15.1% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pembroke Pines's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Portsmouth's 97.4 (US average = 100).
Portsmouth is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Pembroke Pines leads 13 of 20 categories. Pembroke Pines wins 13 and Portsmouth wins 7. 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 Portsmouth or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($379,900 vs $213,300 median home), income ($77,657 vs $57,154), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pembroke Pines, FL and Portsmouth, VA are about 785 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.