Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Richmond, VA
🏆 Brandon leads 14 of 23 categories
Brandon
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,156 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923
Richmond
Virginia
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.0 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$59,606
Violent Crime Index
89
Population
227,171 ✓ 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 Richmond
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Households earn $11,550 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.5 pts lower (4.6%)
Homes cost $42k less ($266,400 vs $308,300)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 48°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,570/mo
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Richmond
Richmond, VA
Pros
Rent averages $343/mo less ($1,227 vs $1,570)
Commutes run 6 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 44.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Brandon
Smaller class sizes — 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Brandon by $11,550/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $308,300
Property crime (3179.4/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Median Income
$11,550
$71,156 vs $59,606/yr
Brandon
Violent Crime
61% lower
131.1 vs 336.9 per 100k
Brandon
Median Home Value
$42k less
$266,400 vs $308,300
Brandon
Unemployment
1.5 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.1% unemployment
Brandon
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 89.5°F
Richmond
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.0 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Richmond, VA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 98.0 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 ✓ Lower | $308,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High | $1,227 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 ✓ Higher | $59,606 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 22.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% | 14.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 114⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 89 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 151⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (107) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 11.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% | 44.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 88.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Richmond City Public Schools |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 47.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 89.5°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 47.1" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 8.8" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 | 227,171 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 34.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% ✓ Higher | 43.2% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% ✓ More | 17.1% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Richmond's 98.0 (US average = 100).
Richmond is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brandon leads 14 of 23 categories. Brandon wins 14 and Richmond 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 Richmond or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $308,300 median home), income ($71,156 vs $59,606), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Richmond, VA are about 720 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.