Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Boca Raton, FL
VS
Brandon, FL
🏆 It's a dead heat — 11 categories each
Boca Raton
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$95,570 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45
Population
97,980
Brandon
Florida
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,156
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Boca Raton, FL
Pros
Households earn $24,414 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (171.0 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 59.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Smaller class sizes — 16.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $597,100
Higher rents — median is $2,170/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (5.9% vs 4.6%)
Brandon, FL
Pros
Homes cost $331k less ($266,400 vs $597,100)
Rent averages $600/mo less ($1,570 vs $2,170)
23% less violent crime than Boca Raton
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.3 pts lower (4.6%)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Boca Raton
Cons
Median income trails Boca Raton by $24,414/yr
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Boca Raton
Median Income
$24,414
$95,570 vs $71,156/yr
Brandon
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Brandon
Violent Crime
23% lower
131.1 vs 171.0 per 100k
Brandon
Median Home Value
$331k less
$266,400 vs $597,100
Brandon
Unemployment
1.3 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.9% unemployment
Brandon
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 90.5°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Boca Raton, FL | Brandon, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 111.8⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $597,100⚠ High | $266,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $2,170⚠ High | $1,570⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $95,570 ✓ Higher | $71,156 |
| Unemployment Rate | 5.9%⚠ High | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 21.6 min ✓ Shorter | 28.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 18.0% ✓ Higher | 13.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 59 | 29 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 | 35 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 80 | 21 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | B- (96) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.4:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 59.0% ✓ Higher | 34.0% |
| High School or Higher | 96.0% ✓ Higher | 90.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | PALM BEACH | HILLSBOROUGH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 76.3°F ✓ Warmer | 74.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 90.5°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 65.6" | 55.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 97,980 | 114,923 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 47.1 ✓ Older | 37.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 65.7% ✓ Higher | 55.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | 19.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 25.7% ✓ More | 14.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Boca Raton's cost of living index is 111.8 vs Brandon's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Brandon is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, It's a dead heat — 11 categories each. Boca Raton wins 11 and Brandon wins 11. 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 Boca Raton to Brandon or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($597,100 vs $266,400 median home), income ($95,570 vs $71,156), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Boca Raton, FL and Brandon, FL are about 173 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.