Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Rochester, MN
🏆 Rochester leads 13 of 22 categories
Brandon
Florida
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,156
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923
Rochester
Minnesota
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
93.1 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$83,973 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
41
Population
120,848 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 23°F
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,570/mo
Median income trails Rochester by $12,817/yr
Cost of living runs 10% higher than Rochester
Higher unemployment (4.6% vs 3.7%)
Rochester, MN
Pros
Rent averages $352/mo less ($1,218 vs $1,570)
Violent crime is well below the national average (154.0 vs 380/100k)
Commutes run 11 min shorter each way
Households earn $12,817 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.9 pts lower (3.7%)
More college-educated — 49.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Snowy winters — about 52" of snow per year
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Violent Crime
15% lower
131.1 vs 154.0 per 100k
Brandon
Summer Heat
13.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 80.3°F
Rochester
Cost of Living
10% cheaper
COL index 93.1 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Rochester
Median Income
$12,817
$83,973 vs $71,156/yr
Rochester
Unemployment
0.9 pp lower
3.7% vs 4.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Rochester, MN |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 93.1 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 ✓ Lower | $268,800 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High | $1,218 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 | $83,973 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High | 3.7% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 17.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 10.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 50 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 41 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 65 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | A- (116) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | — |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% | 49.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 94.3% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Rochester Public School District |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 22.5°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 80.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 37.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 52.3" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 | 120,848 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 36.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% | 65.5% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 23.6% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 15.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Rochester's 93.1 (US average = 100).
Rochester is 10% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Rochester leads 13 of 22 categories. Brandon wins 9 and Rochester wins 13. 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 Rochester or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $268,800 median home), income ($71,156 vs $83,973), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Rochester, MN are about 1,246 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.