Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Providence, RI
🏆 Brandon leads 15 of 23 categories
Brandon
Florida
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,156 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923
Providence
Rhode Island
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$61,365
Violent Crime Index
73
Population
189,715 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
53% less violent crime than Providence
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.6 pts lower (4.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 38°F
Households earn $9,791 more per year on average
Homes cost $27k less ($266,400 vs $293,000)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,570/mo
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Cost of living runs 3% higher than Providence
Providence, RI
Pros
Rent averages $356/mo less ($1,214 vs $1,570)
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 84°F vs 94°F
Smaller class sizes — 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
3% cheaper overall cost of living than Brandon
Cons
Median income trails Brandon by $9,791/yr
Higher unemployment (7.2% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Median Income
$9,791
$71,156 vs $61,365/yr
Brandon
Violent Crime
53% lower
131.1 vs 276.7 per 100k
Brandon
Median Home Value
$27k less
$266,400 vs $293,000
Brandon
Unemployment
2.6 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.2% unemployment
Brandon
Summer Heat
10.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 83.6°F
Providence
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 100.9 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Providence, RI |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 100.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 ✓ Lower | $293,000 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High | $1,214 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 ✓ Higher | $61,365 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 24.2 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 11.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 75 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 73 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 79 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | B- (95) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 14.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% | 34.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 82.9% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Providence |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 38.3°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 83.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 47.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 36.6" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 | 189,715 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 32.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% ✓ Higher | 39.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 20.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 11.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Providence's 100.9 (US average = 100).
Providence is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brandon leads 15 of 23 categories. Brandon wins 15 and Providence wins 8. 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 Providence or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $293,000 median home), income ($71,156 vs $61,365), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Providence, RI are about 1,138 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.