Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Lowell, MA
🏆 Brandon leads 16 of 23 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 ✓ Larger
Lowell
Massachusetts
7
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.6⚠ High
Median Household Income
$73,008 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
140⚠ High
Population
114,737
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
75% less violent crime than Lowell
Homes cost $96k less ($266,400 vs $362,800)
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 34°F
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.6%)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than Lowell
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,570/mo
Lowell, MA
Pros
Cooler summers — July highs near 85°F vs 94°F
Rent averages $104/mo less ($1,466 vs $1,570)
Smaller class sizes — 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $362,800
Violent crime (532.5/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.6)
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 111.6 (100 = US avg)
Brandon
Violent Crime
75% lower
131.1 vs 532.5 per 100k
Brandon
Median Home Value
$96k less
$266,400 vs $362,800
Brandon
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.7% unemployment
Brandon
Summer Heat
9.1°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 84.7°F
Lowell
Median Income
$1,852
$73,008 vs $71,156/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Lowell, MA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.6⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 ✓ Lower | $362,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High | $1,466⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 | $73,008 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 27.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 8.7% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 116⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 140⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 12.6:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% ✓ Higher | 28.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 82.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Lowell |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 34.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 84.7°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 48.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 59.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 ✓ Larger | 114,737 |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 34.6 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% ✓ Higher | 43.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 11.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Lowell's 111.6 (US average = 100).
Brandon is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brandon leads 16 of 23 categories. Brandon wins 16 and Lowell 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 Lowell or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $362,800 median home), income ($71,156 vs $73,008), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Lowell, MA are about 1,187 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.