Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Kent, WA
🏆 Brandon leads 17 of 23 categories
Brandon
Florida
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,156
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923
Kent
Washington
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
113.0⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,966 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
129⚠ High
Population
135,169 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
Homes cost $212k less ($266,400 vs $478,400)
73% less violent crime than Kent
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 48°F
Rent averages $172/mo less ($1,570 vs $1,742)
Cons
Median income trails Kent by $15,810/yr
Kent, WA
Pros
Households earn $15,810 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 78°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $478,400
Violent crime (489.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 113.0)
Property crime (3771.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 113.0 (100 = US avg)
Brandon
Violent Crime
73% lower
131.1 vs 489.7 per 100k
Brandon
Median Home Value
$212k less
$266,400 vs $478,400
Brandon
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.6% unemployment
Brandon
Summer Heat
15.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 78.3°F
Kent
Median Income
$15,810
$86,966 vs $71,156/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Kent, WA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 113.0⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 ✓ Lower | $478,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,742⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 | $86,966 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 10.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 149⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 180⚠ 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 | 18.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% ✓ Higher | 27.9% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 87.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Kent School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 48.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 78.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 44.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 6.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 | 135,169 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 34.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% | 55.8% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 24.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 10.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Kent's 113.0 (US average = 100).
Brandon is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brandon leads 17 of 23 categories. Brandon wins 17 and Kent wins 6. 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 Kent or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $478,400 median home), income ($71,156 vs $86,966), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Kent, WA are about 2,524 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.