Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Aurora, CO
VS
Brandon, FL
🏆 Brandon leads 17 of 23 categories
Aurora
Colorado
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,685 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
249⚠ High
Population
387,349 ✓ Larger
Brandon
Florida
17
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.
Aurora, CO
Pros
Households earn $7,529 more per year on average
Smaller class sizes — 16.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $409,700
Violent crime (947.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3103.9/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.6%)
Brandon, FL
Pros
86% less violent crime than Aurora
Homes cost $143k less ($266,400 vs $409,700)
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 47°F
Rent averages $81/mo less ($1,570 vs $1,651)
Cons
Median income trails Aurora by $7,529/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Aurora
Median Income
$7,529
$78,685 vs $71,156/yr
Brandon
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 105.5 (100 = US avg)
Brandon
Violent Crime
86% lower
131.1 vs 947.8 per 100k
Brandon
Median Home Value
$143k less
$266,400 vs $409,700
Brandon
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.5% unemployment
Brandon
Summer Heat
3.4°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 90.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Aurora, CO | Brandon, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $409,700⚠ High | $266,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,651⚠ High | $1,570⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,685 ✓ Higher | $71,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.5%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 29.4 min⚠ High | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.0% | 13.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 209⚠ High | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 249⚠ High | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 148⚠ High | 21 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (93) | B- (96) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 31.8% | 34.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 86.9% | 90.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Aurora Joint District No. 28 of the counties of Adams and A | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 47.3°F | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 90.4°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 17.5" ✓ Drier | 55.1" |
| Annual Snowfall | 49.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 387,349 ✓ Larger | 114,923 |
| Median Age | 35.1 | 37.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% ✓ Higher | 55.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.2% ✓ More | 19.9% |
| Over 65 | 11.9% | 14.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Aurora's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Brandon's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Brandon is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brandon leads 17 of 23 categories. Aurora wins 6 and Brandon wins 17. 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 Aurora to Brandon or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($409,700 vs $266,400 median home), income ($78,685 vs $71,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Aurora, CO and Brandon, FL are about 1,516 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.