Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Cary, NC
🏆 Cary leads 16 of 23 categories
Brandon
Florida
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,156
Violent Crime Index
35
Population
114,923
Cary
North Carolina
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$125,317 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
19 ✓ Safer
Population
174,880 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
Homes cost $211k less ($266,400 vs $477,400)
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 51°F
Cons
Median income trails Cary by $54,161/yr
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 3.4%)
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Cary
Cary, NC
Pros
Households earn $54,161 more per year on average
46% less violent crime than Brandon
More college-educated — 70.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (71.0 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (3.4%)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $477,400
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Median Home Value
$211k less
$266,400 vs $477,400
Brandon
Summer Heat
4.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 89.0°F
Cary
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Cary
Median Income
$54,161
$125,317 vs $71,156/yr
Cary
Violent Crime
46% lower
71.0 vs 131.1 per 100k
Cary
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
3.4% vs 4.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Cary, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 ✓ Lower | $477,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High | $1,538⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 | $125,317 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High | 3.4% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 22.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% | 28.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 36 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 | 19 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 63 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% | 70.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 96.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Wake County Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 50.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 89.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 50.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 4.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 | 174,880 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.2 | 39.4 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% | 66.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 24.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Cary's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Cary is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cary leads 16 of 23 categories. Brandon wins 7 and Cary wins 16. 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 Cary or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $477,400 median home), income ($71,156 vs $125,317), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Cary, NC are about 579 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.