Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Jersey City, NJ
🏆 Brandon leads 15 of 23 categories
Brandon
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,156
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923
Jersey City
New Jersey
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
112.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$91,151 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
148⚠ High
Population
287,899 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
Homes cost $234k less ($266,400 vs $500,100)
77% less violent crime than Jersey City
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 39°F
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.2 pts lower (4.6%)
Cons
Median income trails Jersey City by $19,995/yr
Jersey City, NJ
Pros
Households earn $19,995 more per year on average
More college-educated — 51.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 12.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $500,100
Violent crime (561.6/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Higher rents — median is $1,799/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 112.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 112.5 (100 = US avg)
Brandon
Violent Crime
77% lower
131.1 vs 561.6 per 100k
Brandon
Median Home Value
$234k less
$266,400 vs $500,100
Brandon
Unemployment
1.2 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.8% unemployment
Brandon
Summer Heat
7.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 86.8°F
Jersey City
Median Income
$19,995
$91,151 vs $71,156/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Jersey City, NJ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 112.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 ✓ Lower | $500,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,799⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 | $91,151 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 37.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% | 18.7% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 148⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | A- (117) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 12.1:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% | 51.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 90.0% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Jersey City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 39.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 86.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 50.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 28.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 | 287,899 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% ✓ Higher | 29.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 20.3% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 11.3% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Jersey City's 112.5 (US average = 100).
Brandon is 9% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brandon leads 15 of 23 categories. Brandon wins 15 and Jersey City 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 Jersey City or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $500,100 median home), income ($71,156 vs $91,151), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Jersey City, NJ are about 999 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.