Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Dearborn, MI
🏆 Brandon leads 13 of 23 categories
Brandon
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,156 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923 ✓ Larger
Dearborn
Michigan
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$64,600
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
108,414
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
55% less violent crime than Dearborn
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.2 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)
Households earn $6,556 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,570/mo
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Dearborn
Dearborn, MI
Pros
Homes cost $77k less ($189,400 vs $266,400)
Rent averages $365/mo less ($1,205 vs $1,570)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Brandon
Smaller class sizes — 14.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Higher unemployment (6.8% vs 4.6%)
Median income trails Brandon by $6,556/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Median Income
$6,556
$71,156 vs $64,600/yr
Brandon
Violent Crime
55% lower
131.1 vs 292.6 per 100k
Brandon
Unemployment
2.2 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.8% unemployment
Brandon
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 83.6°F
Dearborn
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Dearborn
Median Home Value
$77k less
$189,400 vs $266,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Dearborn, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 | $189,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High | $1,205 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 ✓ Higher | $64,600 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 21.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 9.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 95 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 14.8:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% | 34.8% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 85.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Dearborn City School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 32.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 35.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 30.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 ✓ Larger | 108,414 |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% | 69.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 28.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 12.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Dearborn's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Dearborn is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brandon leads 13 of 23 categories. Brandon wins 13 and Dearborn 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 Dearborn or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $189,400 median home), income ($71,156 vs $64,600), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Dearborn, MI are about 995 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.