Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pembroke Pines, FL
VS
Topeka, KS
🏆 Pembroke Pines leads 12 of 20 categories
Pembroke Pines
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,657 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
170,472 ✓ Larger
Topeka
Kansas
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
85.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$54,052
Violent Crime Index
225⚠ High
Population
126,431
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pembroke Pines, FL
Pros
Households earn $23,605 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 40°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 26% higher than Topeka
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Topeka, KS
Pros
Homes cost $255k less ($124,700 vs $379,900)
Rent averages $861/mo less ($926 vs $1,787)
26% cheaper overall cost of living than Pembroke Pines
Commutes run 14 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 85.9)
Smaller class sizes — 12.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Pembroke Pines by $23,605/yr
Violent crime (856.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3642.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Pembroke Pines
Median Income
$23,605
$77,657 vs $54,052/yr
Pembroke Pines
Summer Heat
3.2°F warmer
July avg high 91.7°F vs 88.5°F
Topeka
Cost of Living
26% cheaper
COL index 85.9 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Topeka
Median Home Value
$255k less
$124,700 vs $379,900
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pembroke Pines, FL | Topeka, KS |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 85.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $379,900⚠ High | $124,700 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,787⚠ High | $926 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,657 ✓ Higher | $54,052 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 225⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 173⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) | B (102) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 | 12.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.1% ✓ Higher | 28.5% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 91.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Topeka Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.9°F ✓ Warmer | 39.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F ✓ Warmer | 88.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.0" | 37.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 17.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 170,472 ✓ Larger | 126,431 |
| Median Age | 42.9 ✓ Older | 37.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.0% ✓ Higher | 59.0% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | 22.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.9% ✓ More | 18.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pembroke Pines's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Topeka's 85.9 (US average = 100).
Topeka is 26% less expensive overall.
Based on the 20 decided categories above, Pembroke Pines leads 12 of 20 categories. Pembroke Pines wins 12 and Topeka wins 8. 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 Topeka or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($379,900 vs $124,700 median home), income ($77,657 vs $54,052), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pembroke Pines, FL and Topeka, KS are about 1,265 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.