Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Cedar Rapids, IA
🏆 Cedar Rapids leads 13 of 23 categories
Brandon
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,156 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$66,895
Violent Crime Index
69
Population
136,929 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
50% less violent crime than Cedar Rapids
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 28°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $4,261 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,570/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Cedar Rapids
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Cedar Rapids, IA
Pros
Rent averages $684/mo less ($886 vs $1,570)
Homes cost $99k less ($167,900 vs $266,400)
Violent crime is well below the national average (261.5 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Brandon
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (3.9%)
Cons
Property crime (2689.1/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Brandon by $4,261/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Median Income
$4,261
$71,156 vs $66,895/yr
Brandon
Violent Crime
50% lower
131.1 vs 261.5 per 100k
Brandon
Summer Heat
11.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 82.8°F
Cedar Rapids
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Cedar Rapids
Median Home Value
$99k less
$167,900 vs $266,400
Cedar Rapids
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
3.9% vs 4.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Cedar Rapids, IA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 | $167,900 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High | $886 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 ✓ Higher | $66,895 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High | 3.9%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 17.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 93 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 69 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (104) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 14.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% ✓ Higher | 32.9% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 94.0% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Cedar Rapids Comm School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 27.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 35.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 34.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 | 136,929 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% | 69.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 21.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 16.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Cedar Rapids's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Cedar Rapids is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Cedar Rapids leads 13 of 23 categories. Brandon wins 10 and Cedar Rapids wins 13. 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 Cedar Rapids or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $167,900 median home), income ($71,156 vs $66,895), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Cedar Rapids, IA are about 1,104 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.