Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Fresno, CA
🏆 Brandon leads 15 of 22 categories
Brandon
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,156 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923
Fresno
California
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$63,001
Violent Crime Index
194⚠ High
Population
541,528 ✓ Larger
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 Fresno
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.4 pts lower (4.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $55k less ($266,400 vs $321,800)
Households earn $8,155 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 55°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,570/mo
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Fresno, CA
Pros
Rent averages $343/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,570)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
Cons
Violent crime (735.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $321,800
Property crime (3271.3/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Median income trails Brandon by $8,155/yr
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 105.0 (100 = US avg)
Brandon
Median Income
$8,155
$71,156 vs $63,001/yr
Brandon
Violent Crime
82% lower
131.1 vs 735.5 per 100k
Brandon
Median Home Value
$55k less
$266,400 vs $321,800
Brandon
Unemployment
4.4 pp lower
4.6% vs 9.0% unemployment
Fresno
Summer Heat
3.9°F warmer
July avg high 97.7°F vs 93.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Fresno, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 105.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 ✓ Lower | $321,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 ✓ Higher | $63,001 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 9.0%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 22.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 8.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 178⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 194⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 156⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C+ (88) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 19.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% ✓ Higher | 24.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 79.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Fresno Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 55.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F | 97.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 11.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 | 541,528 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 32.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% ✓ Higher | 48.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Fresno's 105.0 (US average = 100).
Brandon is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Brandon leads 15 of 22 categories. Brandon wins 15 and Fresno wins 7. 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 Fresno or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $321,800 median home), income ($71,156 vs $63,001), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Fresno, CA are about 2,256 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.