Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Lancaster, CA
🏆 Brandon leads 16 of 22 categories
Brandon
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,156
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923
Lancaster
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,367 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
220⚠ High
Population
171,465 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
84% less violent crime than Lancaster
Homes cost $102k less ($266,400 vs $368,800)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.9 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
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Lancaster
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Lancaster, CA
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $368,800
Violent crime (834.7/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
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
Violent Crime
84% lower
131.1 vs 834.7 per 100k
Brandon
Median Home Value
$102k less
$266,400 vs $368,800
Brandon
Unemployment
2.9 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.5% unemployment
Lancaster
Summer Heat
3.8°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 93.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Lancaster, 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 | $368,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,576⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 | $71,367 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.5%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 30.9 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 8.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 168⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 220⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C- (63) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.6:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% ✓ Higher | 19.4% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 81.2% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Lancaster Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 58.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 6.8" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 | 171,465 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 33.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% | 57.1% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 27.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 11.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Lancaster's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Brandon is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Brandon leads 16 of 22 categories. Brandon wins 16 and Lancaster 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 Lancaster or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $368,800 median home), income ($71,156 vs $71,367), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Lancaster, CA are about 2,157 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.