Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Charlotte, NC
🏆 Brandon leads 12 of 23 categories
Brandon
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,156
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923
Charlotte
North Carolina
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
97.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$74,070 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
193⚠ High
Population
875,045 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
82% less violent crime than Charlotte
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $46k less ($266,400 vs $312,800)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 52°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,570/mo
Cost of living runs 6% higher than Charlotte
Median income trails Charlotte by $2,914/yr
Charlotte, NC
Pros
More college-educated — 46.6% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $171/mo less ($1,399 vs $1,570)
6% cheaper overall cost of living than Brandon
Smaller class sizes — 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $2,914 more per year on average
Cons
Violent crime (733.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $312,800
Property crime (3705.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Violent Crime
82% lower
131.1 vs 733.2 per 100k
Brandon
Median Home Value
$46k less
$266,400 vs $312,800
Brandon
Summer Heat
3.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 90.3°F
Charlotte
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 97.0 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Charlotte
Median Income
$2,914
$74,070 vs $71,156/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Charlotte, NC |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 97.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 ✓ Lower | $312,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High | $1,399⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 | $74,070 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% | 21.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 186⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 193⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 176⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (108) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 16.5:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% | 46.6% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 89.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 52.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 90.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 43.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 | 875,045 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% ✓ Higher | 52.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 10.7% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Charlotte's 97.0 (US average = 100).
Charlotte is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brandon leads 12 of 23 categories. Brandon wins 12 and Charlotte 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 Brandon to Charlotte or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $312,800 median home), income ($71,156 vs $74,070), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Charlotte, NC are about 510 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.