Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pembroke Pines, FL
VS
Rio Rancho, NM
🏆 Rio Rancho leads 13 of 20 categories
Pembroke Pines
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,657
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
170,472 ✓ Larger
Rio Rancho
New Mexico
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$78,978 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
84
Population
104,351
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 0.8 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 50°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $379,900
Higher rents — median is $1,787/mo
Cost of living runs 19% higher than Rio Rancho
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Rio Rancho, NM
Pros
Homes cost $133k less ($246,700 vs $379,900)
Rent averages $430/mo less ($1,357 vs $1,787)
19% cheaper overall cost of living than Pembroke Pines
Living costs sit below the national average (index 93.0)
Smaller class sizes — 13.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Pembroke Pines
Unemployment
0.8 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.5% unemployment
Rio Rancho
Cost of Living
19% cheaper
COL index 93.0 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Rio Rancho
Median Income
$1,321
$78,978 vs $77,657/yr
Rio Rancho
Median Home Value
$133k less
$246,700 vs $379,900
Rio Rancho
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 95.5°F vs 91.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pembroke Pines, FL | Rio Rancho, NM |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 93.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $379,900⚠ High | $246,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,787⚠ High | $1,357⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,657 | $78,978 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% | 12.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 76 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 84 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 64 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 13.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.1% ✓ Higher | 33.2% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% | 94.6% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | SANDOVAL ACADEMY OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.9°F ✓ Warmer | 49.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F | 95.5°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.0" | 10.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 9.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 170,472 ✓ Larger | 104,351 |
| Median Age | 42.9 ✓ Older | 39.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.0% | 81.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | 24.2% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.9% ✓ More | 16.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pembroke Pines's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Rio Rancho's 93.0 (US average = 100).
Rio Rancho is 19% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Rio Rancho leads 13 of 20 categories. Pembroke Pines wins 7 and Rio Rancho wins 13. 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 Rio Rancho or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($379,900 vs $246,700 median home), income ($77,657 vs $78,978), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pembroke Pines, FL and Rio Rancho, NM are about 1,686 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.