Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Indio, CA
🏆 Brandon leads 14 of 22 categories
Brandon
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,156 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923 ✓ Larger
Indio
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$68,436
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
89,616
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
61% less violent crime than Indio
Homes cost $107k less ($266,400 vs $373,200)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.7 pts lower (4.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 106°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,570/mo
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Indio, CA
Pros
Rent averages $226/mo less ($1,344 vs $1,570)
Commutes run 5 min shorter each way
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $373,200
Higher unemployment (7.3% vs 4.6%)
Hot summers — July highs average 106°F
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Brandon
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Brandon
Median Income
$2,720
$71,156 vs $68,436/yr
Brandon
Violent Crime
61% lower
131.1 vs 336.2 per 100k
Brandon
Median Home Value
$107k less
$266,400 vs $373,200
Brandon
Unemployment
2.7 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.3% unemployment
Indio
Summer Heat
12.0°F warmer
July avg high 105.8°F vs 93.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Indio, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 ✓ Lower | $373,200⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High | $1,344⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 ✓ Higher | $68,436 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 23.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 4.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 85 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C (82) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 77.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Desert Sands Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 70.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F | 105.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 2.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 ✓ Larger | 89,616 |
| Median Age | 37.2 | 39.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% | 69.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 19.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Indio's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Brandon is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Brandon leads 14 of 22 categories. Brandon wins 14 and Indio 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 Indio or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $373,200 median home), income ($71,156 vs $68,436), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Indio, CA are about 2,043 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.