Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Lansing, MI
🏆 Brandon leads 16 of 23 categories
Brandon
Florida
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,156 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923 ✓ Larger
Lansing
Michigan
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.8 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$50,747
Violent Crime Index
354⚠ High
Population
112,986
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
90% less violent crime than Lansing
Households earn $20,409 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.7 pts lower (4.6%)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 31°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,570/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Lansing
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Lansing, MI
Pros
Homes cost $154k less ($112,200 vs $266,400)
Rent averages $616/mo less ($954 vs $1,570)
Commutes run 9 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Brandon
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.8)
Cooler summers — July highs near 83°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Brandon by $20,409/yr
Violent crime (1345.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2499.0/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (8.3% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Median Income
$20,409
$71,156 vs $50,747/yr
Brandon
Violent Crime
90% lower
131.1 vs 1345.1 per 100k
Brandon
Unemployment
3.7 pp lower
4.6% vs 8.3% unemployment
Brandon
Summer Heat
11.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 82.8°F
Lansing
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.8 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Lansing
Median Home Value
$154k less
$112,200 vs $266,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Lansing, MI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 92.8 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 | $112,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High | $954 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 ✓ Higher | $50,747 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 8.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 19.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 10.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 260⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 354⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 119⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C+ (85) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 17.0:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% ✓ Higher | 29.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 90.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Lansing Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 30.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 82.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 33.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 50.2" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 ✓ Larger | 112,986 |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 32.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% ✓ Higher | 53.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 22.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 12.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Lansing's 92.8 (US average = 100).
Lansing is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brandon leads 16 of 23 categories. Brandon wins 16 and Lansing wins 7. 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 Lansing or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $112,200 median home), income ($71,156 vs $50,747), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Lansing, MI are about 1,029 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.