Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Chicago, IL
🏆 Brandon leads 13 of 23 categories
Brandon
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,156
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923
Chicago
Illinois
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,673 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
142⚠ High
Population
2,721,914 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
76% less violent crime than Chicago
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.6 pts lower (4.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 32°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $38k less ($266,400 vs $304,500)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,570/mo
Chicago, IL
Pros
Rent averages $256/mo less ($1,314 vs $1,570)
More college-educated — 42.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 13.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Violent crime (539.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (3472.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.2% vs 4.6%)
Longer commutes — 34.1 min average each way
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Violent Crime
76% lower
131.1 vs 539.8 per 100k
Brandon
Median Home Value
$38k less
$266,400 vs $304,500
Brandon
Unemployment
3.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 8.2% unemployment
Brandon
Summer Heat
12.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 81.0°F
Chicago
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 102.6 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Chicago
Median Income
$517
$71,673 vs $71,156/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Chicago, IL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 102.6⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 ✓ Lower | $304,500 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High | $1,314 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 | $71,673 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 34.1 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% | 15.6% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 142⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 165⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | A (118) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 13.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% | 42.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 86.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Chicago Public Schools Dist 299 |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 31.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 81.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 34.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 38.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 | 2,721,914 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 35.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% ✓ Higher | 45.6% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 20.0% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 13.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Chicago's 102.6 (US average = 100).
Chicago is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brandon leads 13 of 23 categories. Brandon wins 13 and Chicago 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 Chicago or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $304,500 median home), income ($71,156 vs $71,673), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Chicago, IL are about 1,007 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.