Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Compton, CA
🏆 Brandon leads 18 of 22 categories
Brandon
Florida
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,156 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923 ✓ Larger
Compton
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$69,728
Violent Crime Index
335⚠ High
Population
94,822
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
Homes cost $223k less ($266,400 vs $489,400)
90% less violent crime than Compton
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.3 pts lower (4.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Compton
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,570/mo
Compton, CA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 77°F vs 94°F
Rent averages $106/mo less ($1,464 vs $1,570)
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $489,400
Violent crime (1271.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Brandon
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Brandon
Median Income
$1,428
$71,156 vs $69,728/yr
Brandon
Violent Crime
90% lower
131.1 vs 1271.7 per 100k
Brandon
Median Home Value
$223k less
$266,400 vs $489,400
Brandon
Unemployment
3.3 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.9% unemployment
Brandon
Summer Heat
16.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 77.2°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Compton, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 ✓ Lower | $489,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High | $1,464⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 ✓ Higher | $69,728 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.8 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 3.3% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 261⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 335⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 150⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C (77) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 63.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Compton Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 67.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 77.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 11.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 ✓ Larger | 94,822 |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 33.4 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% | 57.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Compton's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Brandon is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Brandon leads 18 of 22 categories. Brandon wins 18 and Compton wins 4. 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 Compton or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $489,400 median home), income ($71,156 vs $69,728), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Compton, CA are about 2,158 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.