Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Fairfield, CA
🏆 Brandon leads 17 of 22 categories
Brandon
Florida
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,156
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923
Fairfield
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
109.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,857 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
131⚠ High
Population
119,420 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
Homes cost $280k less ($266,400 vs $546,200)
74% less violent crime than Fairfield
Rent averages $477/mo less ($1,570 vs $2,047)
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.6%)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cons
Median income trails Fairfield by $27,701/yr
Fairfield, CA
Pros
Households earn $27,701 more per year on average
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $546,200
Violent crime (498.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $2,047/mo
Higher unemployment (5.5% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Cost of Living
6% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 109.2 (100 = US avg)
Brandon
Violent Crime
74% lower
131.1 vs 498.0 per 100k
Brandon
Median Home Value
$280k less
$266,400 vs $546,200
Brandon
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.5% unemployment
Brandon
Summer Heat
4.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 89.6°F
Fairfield
Median Income
$27,701
$98,857 vs $71,156/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Fairfield, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 109.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 ✓ Lower | $546,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,047⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 | $98,857 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 32.3 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 131⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 80 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 24.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% ✓ Higher | 27.8% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 87.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Fairfield-Suisun Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 56.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 89.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 24.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 | 119,420 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 35.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% | 60.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 24.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 13.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Fairfield's 109.2 (US average = 100).
Brandon is 6% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Brandon leads 17 of 22 categories. Brandon wins 17 and Fairfield wins 5. 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 Fairfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $546,200 median home), income ($71,156 vs $98,857), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Fairfield, CA are about 2,388 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.