Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Fort Wayne, IN
🏆 Brandon leads 12 of 23 categories
Brandon
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,156 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923
Fort Wayne
Indiana
11
wins
Cost of Living Index
90.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$58,233
Violent Crime Index
81
Population
264,514 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
57% less violent crime than Fort Wayne
Households earn $12,923 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 33°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 34.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,570/mo
Cost of living runs 13% higher than Fort Wayne
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Fort Wayne, IN
Pros
Homes cost $114k less ($152,500 vs $266,400)
Rent averages $666/mo less ($904 vs $1,570)
13% cheaper overall cost of living than Brandon
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Living costs sit below the national average (index 90.0)
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Brandon by $12,923/yr
Higher unemployment (5.8% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Median Income
$12,923
$71,156 vs $58,233/yr
Brandon
Violent Crime
57% lower
131.1 vs 307.5 per 100k
Brandon
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.8% unemployment
Brandon
Summer Heat
9.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 84.1°F
Fort Wayne
Cost of Living
13% cheaper
COL index 90.0 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Fort Wayne
Median Home Value
$114k less
$152,500 vs $266,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Fort Wayne, IN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 90.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 | $152,500 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High | $904 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 ✓ Higher | $58,233 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 21.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 6.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 106⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 13.4:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% ✓ Higher | 28.1% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Fort Wayne Community Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 32.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 84.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 38.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 33.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 | 264,514 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 35.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% | 62.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 24.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 14.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Fort Wayne's 90.0 (US average = 100).
Fort Wayne is 13% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brandon leads 12 of 23 categories. Brandon wins 12 and Fort Wayne wins 11. 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 Fort Wayne or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $152,500 median home), income ($71,156 vs $58,233), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Fort Wayne, IN are about 923 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.