Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Houston, TX
🏆 Brandon leads 13 of 22 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
Houston
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$60,440
Violent Crime Index
302⚠ High
Population
2,296,253 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
89% less violent crime than Houston
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (4.6%)
Households earn $10,716 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 63°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,570/mo
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Houston
Houston, TX
Pros
Rent averages $335/mo less ($1,235 vs $1,570)
Homes cost $31k less ($235,000 vs $266,400)
Smaller class sizes — 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Brandon
Cons
Violent crime (1148.2/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Median income trails Brandon by $10,716/yr
Property crime (4293.5/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.6% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Median Income
$10,716
$71,156 vs $60,440/yr
Brandon
Violent Crime
89% lower
131.1 vs 1148.2 per 100k
Brandon
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.6% unemployment
Houston
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Houston
Median Home Value
$31k less
$235,000 vs $266,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Houston, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 | $235,000 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High | $1,235 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 ✓ Higher | $60,440 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 27.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 9.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 263⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 302⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 204⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 16.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% | 35.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 79.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | HOUSTON ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 62.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 93.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" ✓ Drier | 55.4" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 | 2,296,253 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 33.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% ✓ Higher | 42.0% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Houston's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Houston is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Brandon leads 13 of 22 categories. Brandon wins 13 and Houston wins 9. 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 Houston or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $235,000 median home), income ($71,156 vs $60,440), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Houston, TX are about 802 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.