Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Pembroke Pines, FL
VS
Vacaville, CA
🏆 Pembroke Pines leads 13 of 19 categories
Pembroke Pines
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$77,657
Violent Crime Index
—
Population
170,472 ✓ Larger
Vacaville
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$106,764 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
101,631
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Pembroke Pines, FL
Pros
Homes cost $181k less ($379,900 vs $560,400)
Rent averages $354/mo less ($1,787 vs $2,141)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.7%)
Milder winters — January highs near 77°F vs 58°F
More college-educated — 36.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Vacaville by $29,107/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Vacaville
Vacaville, CA
Pros
Households earn $29,107 more per year on average
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Pembroke Pines
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $560,400
Higher rents — median is $2,141/mo
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 4.7%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Pembroke Pines
Median Home Value
$181k less
$379,900 vs $560,400
Pembroke Pines
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.7% vs 5.4% unemployment
Vacaville
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 109.2 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Vacaville
Median Income
$29,107
$106,764 vs $77,657/yr
Vacaville
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 91.7°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Pembroke Pines, FL | Vacaville, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 109.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $379,900⚠ High ✓ Lower | $560,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,787⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,141⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $77,657 | $106,764 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.7%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.6 min⚠ High | 28.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 10.7% ✓ Higher | 9.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | — | 79 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | — | 83 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (95) ✓ Better | C+ (89) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.9:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 36.1% ✓ Higher | 26.3% |
| High School or Higher | 93.3% ✓ Higher | 91.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | BROWARD | Vacaville Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.9°F ✓ Warmer | 57.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 91.7°F | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 67.0" | 24.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 170,472 ✓ Larger | 101,631 |
| Median Age | 42.9 ✓ Older | 37.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 71.0% ✓ Higher | 66.2% |
| Under 18 | 20.2% | 22.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 18.9% ✓ More | 14.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pembroke Pines's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Vacaville's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Vacaville is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 19 decided categories above, Pembroke Pines leads 13 of 19 categories. Pembroke Pines wins 13 and Vacaville wins 6. 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 Vacaville or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($379,900 vs $560,400 median home), income ($77,657 vs $106,764), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Pembroke Pines, FL and Vacaville, CA are about 2,555 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.