Skip to content
Nanci Gilbert, PA logo

Blog · Community

Hollywood vs. Pembroke Pines: Which Broward City Fits Your Family?

One offers beach nights and coastal commutes; the other offers newer subdivisions and a planned suburban rhythm. The right choice depends on how you actually spend your week.

By Nanci Gilbert, PA September 28, 2026
Header image for "Hollywood vs. Pembroke Pines: Which Broward City Fits Your Family?"

Hollywood and Pembroke Pines sit a few miles apart in Broward, but they answer a family's questions differently. One offers beach nights and coastal commutes; the other offers newer subdivisions and a planned suburban rhythm. Which one fits depends on how you actually spend your week.

Size and feel

Hollywood is Broward's third-largest city, with about 153,000 residents across 27 square miles stretching from the beach inland. Pembroke Pines covers roughly 34 square miles with a population near 175,000, and it sits farther inland with a more suburban, planned character.

Schools

Both cities sit in Broward County Public Schools. On Niche's rating, Pembroke Pines' public schools score B+ and Hollywood's B, and Pembroke Pines is especially known for its charter schools. Hollywood families often point to magnet and choice options such as the College Academy at Broward College and McFatter Technical High School.

The commute

Average commutes are close, about half an hour in both cities. Hollywood sits closer to I-95, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami, which makes trips into the corridor shorter. Pembroke Pines is farther from the coast, so drives to the beach or downtown Fort Lauderdale take longer.

Cost and housing

Hollywood runs roughly 2.6 percent cheaper than Pembroke Pines overall, and a mid-range three-bedroom home tends to run around $375,000 there versus roughly $450,000 in Pembroke Pines. Pembroke Pines also carries higher household incomes, which often reflects its newer housing stock.

Which fits your week

Choose Hollywood if the beach, a shorter coastal commute, and a more established mix of neighborhoods matter most. Choose Pembroke Pines if you value newer construction, its charter school options, and a quiet planned grid where the daily errands stay close.

See the streets behind the statistics

Both cities serve families well, which is why the decision comes down to your routine, your budget, and your timeline. Nanci works across both and can show you the streets behind the statistics, from Hollywood's beach blocks to Pembroke Pines' newer communities.

Nanci Gilbert, PA is a South Florida realtor who guides growing families, sellers, and buyers across Miami-Dade and Broward. Questions about this topic? She answers every message within one business day.