Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Longmont, CO
🏆 Longmont leads 13 of 22 categories
Brandon
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,156
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923 ✓ Larger
Longmont
Colorado
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$89,720 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
98,282
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
Homes cost $222k less ($266,400 vs $488,100)
72% less violent crime than Longmont
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 45°F
Rent averages $119/mo less ($1,570 vs $1,689)
Cons
Median income trails Longmont by $18,564/yr
Longmont, CO
Pros
Households earn $18,564 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.5 pts lower (4.1%)
More college-educated — 46.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Smaller class sizes — 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $488,100
Violent crime (469.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2618.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher rents — median is $1,689/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Violent Crime
72% lower
131.1 vs 469.3 per 100k
Brandon
Median Home Value
$222k less
$266,400 vs $488,100
Brandon
Summer Heat
3.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 90.8°F
Both cities
Cost of Living
≈ Equal
Both near 103.4 on the COL index
Longmont
Median Income
$18,564
$89,720 vs $71,156/yr
Longmont
Unemployment
0.5 pp lower
4.1% vs 4.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Longmont, CO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 103.4⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 ✓ Lower | $488,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,689⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 | $89,720 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High | 4.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 25.4 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% | 17.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 125⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (109) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% | 46.0% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 92.4% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | St. Vrain Valley School District No. Re1J |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 44.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 90.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 16.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 47.4" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 ✓ Larger | 98,282 |
| Median Age | 37.2 | 39.7 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% | 63.3% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 20.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 17.2% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Longmont's 103.4 (US average = 100).
Both have a similar overall cost of living.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Longmont leads 13 of 22 categories. Brandon wins 9 and Longmont wins 13. 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 Longmont or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $488,100 median home), income ($71,156 vs $89,720), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Longmont, CO are about 1,548 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.