Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Irvine, CA
🏆 Brandon leads 12 of 22 categories
Brandon
Florida
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,156
Violent Crime Index
35
Population
114,923
Irvine
California
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$122,948 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
22 ✓ Safer
Population
304,527 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
Homes cost $759k less ($266,400 vs $1,025,700)
Rent averages $1179/mo less ($1,570 vs $2,749)
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (4.6%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Irvine
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 68°F
Cons
Median income trails Irvine by $51,792/yr
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Irvine, CA
Pros
Households earn $51,792 more per year on average
36% less violent crime than Brandon
More college-educated — 70.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (84.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,025,700
Higher rents — median is $2,749/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Cost of living runs 12% higher than Brandon
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Brandon
Median Home Value
$759k less
$266,400 vs $1,025,700
Brandon
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.5% unemployment
Brandon
Summer Heat
8.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 85.1°F
Irvine
Median Income
$51,792
$122,948 vs $71,156/yr
Irvine
Violent Crime
36% lower
84.0 vs 131.1 per 100k
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Irvine, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 115.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 ✓ Lower | $1,025,700⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,749⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 | $122,948 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 24.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% | 23.1% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 40 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 | 22 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 66 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 26.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% | 70.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 96.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Irvine Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 67.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 85.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 14.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 | 304,527 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 33.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% ✓ Higher | 43.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 21.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 10.4% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Irvine's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Brandon is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Brandon leads 12 of 22 categories. Brandon wins 12 and Irvine wins 10. 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 Irvine or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $1,025,700 median home), income ($71,156 vs $122,948), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Irvine, CA are about 2,131 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.