Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pembroke Pines, FL
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 Pembroke Pines leads 11 of 18 categories
Pembroke Pines
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$77,657
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
170,472 ✓ Larger
San Mateo
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
104,165
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pembroke Pines, FL
Pros
Homes cost $1129k less ($379,900 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1184/mo less ($1,787 vs $2,971)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 58°F
6% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $71,495/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $71,495 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 92°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Pembroke Pines
Key Differences at a Glance
Pembroke Pines
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 111.8 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Pembroke Pines
Median Home Value
$1129k less
$379,900 vs $1,508,900
Pembroke Pines
Summer Heat
19.1°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$71,495
$149,152 vs $77,657/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pembroke Pines, FL | San Mateo, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $379,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,787⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,657 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 28.5 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 74 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 64 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 21.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.1% | 58.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 91.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.9°F ✓ Warmer | 58.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.0" | 19.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 170,472 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 42.9 ✓ Older | 38.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.0% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 18.9% ✓ More | 16.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pembroke Pines's cost of living index is 111.8 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Pembroke Pines is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 18 decided categories above, Pembroke Pines leads 11 of 18 categories. Pembroke Pines wins 11 and San Mateo 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 San Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($379,900 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($77,657 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pembroke Pines, FL and San Mateo, CA are about 2,567 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.