Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Manchester, NH
🏆 Brandon leads 14 of 23 categories
Brandon
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,156
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923
Manchester
New Hampshire
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
104.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$74,040 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
88
Population
115,037 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
61% less violent crime than Manchester
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 32°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Homes cost $38k less ($266,400 vs $304,700)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,570/mo
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Median income trails Manchester by $2,884/yr
Manchester, NH
Pros
Rent averages $208/mo less ($1,362 vs $1,570)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 81°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Households earn $2,884 more per year on average
Cons
Snowy winters — about 53" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Cost of Living
1% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 104.2 (100 = US avg)
Brandon
Violent Crime
61% lower
131.1 vs 336.0 per 100k
Brandon
Median Home Value
$38k less
$266,400 vs $304,700
Brandon
Summer Heat
12.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 81.1°F
Manchester
Median Income
$2,884
$74,040 vs $71,156/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Manchester, NH |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 104.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 ✓ Lower | $304,700 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High | $1,362⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 | $74,040 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 10.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 84 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 88 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 78 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% ✓ Higher | 32.3% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 88.3% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Manchester School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 31.7°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 81.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 42.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 | 115,037 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 37.0 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% ✓ Higher | 48.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% ✓ More | 18.2% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 14.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Manchester's 104.2 (US average = 100).
Brandon is 1% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brandon leads 14 of 23 categories. Brandon wins 14 and Manchester wins 9. 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 Manchester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $304,700 median home), income ($71,156 vs $74,040), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Manchester, NH are about 1,204 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.