Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Chattanooga, TN
🏆 Brandon leads 12 of 22 categories
Brandon
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,156 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923
Chattanooga
Tennessee
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$57,703
Violent Crime Index
217⚠ High
Population
181,288 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
84% less violent crime than Chattanooga
Households earn $13,453 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 51°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,570/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Chattanooga
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Chattanooga, TN
Pros
Rent averages $504/mo less ($1,066 vs $1,570)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Homes cost $36k less ($230,500 vs $266,400)
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Brandon
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cons
Violent crime (823.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Brandon by $13,453/yr
Property crime (3942.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Median Income
$13,453
$71,156 vs $57,703/yr
Brandon
Violent Crime
84% lower
131.1 vs 823.7 per 100k
Brandon
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.1% unemployment
Brandon
Summer Heat
3.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 90.5°F
Chattanooga
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Chattanooga
Median Home Value
$36k less
$230,500 vs $266,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Chattanooga, TN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 | $230,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High | $1,066 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 ✓ Higher | $57,703 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 19.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 205⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 217⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 188⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B (101) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% | 34.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 89.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Hamilton County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 51.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 90.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 55.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 3.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 | 181,288 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% ✓ Higher | 53.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 20.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Chattanooga's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Chattanooga is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Brandon leads 12 of 22 categories. Brandon wins 12 and Chattanooga 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 Chattanooga or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $230,500 median home), income ($71,156 vs $57,703), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Chattanooga, TN are about 522 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.