Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Carlsbad, CA
🏆 Brandon leads 12 of 22 categories
Brandon
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,156
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923 ✓ Larger
Carlsbad
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$134,139 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
52
Population
114,745
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
Homes cost $804k less ($266,400 vs $1,070,500)
Rent averages $907/mo less ($1,570 vs $2,477)
34% less violent crime than Carlsbad
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.4 pts lower (4.6%)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Carlsbad
Cons
Median income trails Carlsbad by $62,983/yr
Carlsbad, CA
Pros
Households earn $62,983 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (199.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 59.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 74°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,070,500
Higher rents — median is $2,477/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (6.0% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Brandon
Violent Crime
34% lower
131.1 vs 199.1 per 100k
Brandon
Median Home Value
$804k less
$266,400 vs $1,070,500
Brandon
Unemployment
1.4 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.0% unemployment
Brandon
Summer Heat
19.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 74.2°F
Carlsbad
Median Income
$62,983
$134,139 vs $71,156/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Carlsbad, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 ✓ Lower | $1,070,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,477⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 | $134,139 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% | 24.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 60 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 52 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 72 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | A- (110) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% | 59.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 95.1% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Carlsbad Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 65.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 74.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 11.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 ✓ Larger | 114,745 |
| Median Age | 37.2 | 42.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% | 62.2% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 17.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Carlsbad's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Brandon is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Brandon leads 12 of 22 categories. Brandon wins 12 and Carlsbad wins 10. 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 Brandon to Carlsbad or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $1,070,500 median home), income ($71,156 vs $134,139), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Carlsbad, CA are about 2,103 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.