Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Richmond, CA
🏆 Brandon leads 17 of 22 categories
Brandon
Florida
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,156
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923
Richmond
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$86,618 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
243⚠ High
Population
115,619 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
Homes cost $358k less ($266,400 vs $624,800)
86% less violent crime than Richmond
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.3 pts lower (4.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Rent averages $283/mo less ($1,570 vs $1,853)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than Richmond
Cons
Median income trails Richmond by $15,462/yr
Richmond, CA
Pros
Households earn $15,462 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 71°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $624,800
Violent crime (923.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Higher rents — median is $1,853/mo
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Brandon
Violent Crime
86% lower
131.1 vs 923.1 per 100k
Brandon
Median Home Value
$358k less
$266,400 vs $624,800
Brandon
Unemployment
2.3 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.9% unemployment
Brandon
Summer Heat
23.0°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 70.8°F
Richmond
Median Income
$15,462
$86,618 vs $71,156/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Richmond, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 118.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 ✓ Lower | $624,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High ✓ Lower | $1,853⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 | $86,618 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.9%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 34.6 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 11.2% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 198⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 243⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C+ (86) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 22.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% ✓ Higher | 32.1% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 79.4% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | West Contra Costa Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 58.2°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 70.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 24.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 | 115,619 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 37.1 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% ✓ Higher | 51.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 21.4% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 14.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Richmond's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Brandon is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Brandon leads 17 of 22 categories. Brandon wins 17 and Richmond wins 5. 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $624,800 median home), income ($71,156 vs $86,618), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Richmond, CA are about 2,403 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.