Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Pasadena, CA
🏆 Brandon leads 13 of 22 categories
Brandon
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,156
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923
Pasadena
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$97,818 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
126⚠ High
Population
137,554 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
Homes cost $715k less ($266,400 vs $981,600)
73% less violent crime than Pasadena
Rent averages $530/mo less ($1,570 vs $2,100)
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.6 pts lower (4.6%)
12% cheaper overall cost of living than Pasadena
Cons
Median income trails Pasadena by $26,662/yr
Pasadena, CA
Pros
Households earn $26,662 more per year on average
More college-educated — 54.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $981,600
Higher rents — median is $2,100/mo
Violent crime (480.4/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Cost of Living
12% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Brandon
Violent Crime
73% lower
131.1 vs 480.4 per 100k
Brandon
Median Home Value
$715k less
$266,400 vs $981,600
Brandon
Unemployment
0.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.2% unemployment
Brandon
Summer Heat
4.7°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 89.1°F
Pasadena
Median Income
$26,662
$97,818 vs $71,156/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Pasadena, 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 | $981,600⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,100⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 | $97,818 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 27.9 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% | 20.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 127⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 126⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 128⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% | 54.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 89.6% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Pasadena Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 68.1°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 89.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 20.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 | 137,554 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.2 | 39.9 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% ✓ Higher | 42.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% ✓ More | 17.0% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 16.8% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Pasadena's 115.5 (US average = 100).
Brandon is 12% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Brandon leads 13 of 22 categories. Brandon wins 13 and Pasadena 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 Pasadena or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $981,600 median home), income ($71,156 vs $97,818), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Pasadena, CA are about 2,153 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.