Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Alexandria, VA
VS
Brandon, FL
🏆 Brandon leads 13 of 23 categories
Alexandria
Virginia
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$113,179 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58
Population
157,594 ✓ Larger
Brandon
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,156
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Alexandria, VA
Pros
Households earn $42,023 more per year on average
More college-educated — 66.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (3.2%)
Smaller class sizes — 15.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $655,700
Higher rents — median is $1,983/mo
Property crime (2640.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Brandon
Brandon, FL
Pros
Homes cost $389k less ($266,400 vs $655,700)
40% less violent crime than Alexandria
Rent averages $413/mo less ($1,570 vs $1,983)
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 45°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Alexandria
Cons
Median income trails Alexandria by $42,023/yr
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 3.2%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Alexandria
Median Income
$42,023
$113,179 vs $71,156/yr
Alexandria
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
3.2% vs 4.6% unemployment
Brandon
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 108.6 (100 = US avg)
Brandon
Violent Crime
40% lower
131.1 vs 219.1 per 100k
Brandon
Median Home Value
$389k less
$266,400 vs $655,700
Brandon
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 89.6°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Alexandria, VA | Brandon, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.6⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $655,700⚠ High | $266,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,983⚠ High | $1,570⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $113,179 ✓ Higher | $71,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% ✓ Lower | 4.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 30.1 min⚠ High | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 22.1% ✓ Higher | 13.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 85 | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 126⚠ High | 21 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (110) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.1:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 66.0% ✓ Higher | 34.0% |
| High School or Higher | 93.7% ✓ Higher | 90.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Alexandria City Public Schools | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.8°F | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 89.6°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 41.8" ✓ Drier | 55.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 13.7" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 157,594 ✓ Larger | 114,923 |
| Median Age | 37.4 ✓ Older | 37.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.7% | 55.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | 19.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 12.3% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Alexandria's cost of living index is 108.6 vs Brandon's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Brandon is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brandon leads 13 of 23 categories. Alexandria wins 10 and Brandon 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 Alexandria to Brandon or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($655,700 vs $266,400 median home), income ($113,179 vs $71,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Alexandria, VA and Brandon, FL are about 810 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.