Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Chico, CA
🏆 Brandon leads 15 of 23 categories
Brandon
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,156 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923 ✓ Larger
Chico
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$65,932
Violent Crime Index
184⚠ High
Population
102,790
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
81% less violent crime than Chico
Homes cost $161k less ($266,400 vs $427,600)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 56°F
Households earn $5,224 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,570/mo
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Chico, CA
Pros
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Rent averages $210/mo less ($1,360 vs $1,570)
More college-educated — 41.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $427,600
Violent crime (699.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher unemployment (6.9% vs 4.6%)
Median income trails Brandon by $5,224/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 104.6 (100 = US avg)
Brandon
Median Income
$5,224
$71,156 vs $65,932/yr
Brandon
Violent Crime
81% lower
131.1 vs 699.2 per 100k
Brandon
Median Home Value
$161k less
$266,400 vs $427,600
Brandon
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.9% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Chico, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 104.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 ✓ Lower | $427,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High | $1,360⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 ✓ Higher | $65,932 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 17.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 147⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 184⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | A- (112) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% | 41.3% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 93.2% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Inspire School of Arts and Sciences District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 56.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F | 95.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 28.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 ✓ Larger | 102,790 |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 30.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% ✓ Higher | 44.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% ✓ More | 18.7% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 13.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Chico's 104.6 (US average = 100).
Brandon is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brandon leads 15 of 23 categories. Brandon wins 15 and Chico wins 8. 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 Chico or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $427,600 median home), income ($71,156 vs $65,932), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Chico, CA are about 2,388 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.