Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Carson, CA
🏆 Brandon leads 16 of 22 categories
Brandon
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,156
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923 ✓ Larger
Carson
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$103,045 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
111⚠ High
Population
94,475
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
Homes cost $350k less ($266,400 vs $616,000)
69% less violent crime than Carson
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $245/mo less ($1,570 vs $1,815)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Carson
Cons
Median income trails Carson by $31,889/yr
Carson, CA
Pros
Households earn $31,889 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $616,000
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Higher rents — median is $1,815/mo
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Brandon
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Brandon
Violent Crime
69% lower
131.1 vs 420.0 per 100k
Brandon
Median Home Value
$350k less
$266,400 vs $616,000
Brandon
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.9% unemployment
Brandon
Summer Heat
16.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 76.9°F
Carson
Median Income
$31,889
$103,045 vs $71,156/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Carson, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 ✓ Lower | $616,000⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,815⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 | $103,045 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 27.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 6.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 122⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% ✓ Higher | 29.6% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 82.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Long Beach Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 66.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 76.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 13.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 ✓ Larger | 94,475 |
| Median Age | 37.2 | 41.3 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% | 74.7% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% ✓ More | 19.5% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Carson's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Brandon is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Brandon leads 16 of 22 categories. Brandon wins 16 and Carson wins 6. 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 Carson or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $616,000 median home), income ($71,156 vs $103,045), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Carson, CA are about 2,159 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.