Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Fall River, MA
🏆 Brandon leads 15 of 23 categories
Brandon
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,156 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923 ✓ Larger
Fall River
Massachusetts
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,734
Violent Crime Index
195⚠ High
Population
93,638
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
82% less violent crime than Fall River
Households earn $18,422 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.8 pts lower (4.6%)
Homes cost $62k less ($266,400 vs $328,100)
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 39°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,570/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Fall River
Fall River, MA
Pros
Rent averages $550/mo less ($1,020 vs $1,570)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.4:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Brandon
Cons
Median income trails Brandon by $18,422/yr
Violent crime (742.9/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $328,100
Higher unemployment (8.4% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Median Income
$18,422
$71,156 vs $52,734/yr
Brandon
Violent Crime
82% lower
131.1 vs 742.9 per 100k
Brandon
Median Home Value
$62k less
$266,400 vs $328,100
Brandon
Unemployment
3.8 pp lower
4.6% vs 8.4% unemployment
Brandon
Summer Heat
11.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 82.5°F
Fall River
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Fall River, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 ✓ Lower | $328,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High | $1,020 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 ✓ Higher | $52,734 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 25.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 5.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 144⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 195⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 66 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 12.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% ✓ Higher | 15.8% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 75.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Fall River |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 39.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 49.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 38.1" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 ✓ Larger | 93,638 |
| Median Age | 37.2 | 39.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% ✓ Higher | 35.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 20.5% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 15.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Fall River's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Fall River is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brandon leads 15 of 23 categories. Brandon wins 15 and Fall River 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 Fall River or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $328,100 median home), income ($71,156 vs $52,734), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Fall River, MA are about 1,143 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.