Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
San Bernardino, CA
🏆 Brandon leads 17 of 22 categories
Brandon
Florida
17
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,156 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923
San Bernardino
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$61,323
Violent Crime Index
236⚠ High
Population
221,041 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
85% less violent crime than San Bernardino
Homes cost $81k less ($266,400 vs $347,100)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.0 pts lower (4.6%)
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 34.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $9,833 more per year on average
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,570/mo
San Bernardino, CA
Pros
Rent averages $251/mo less ($1,319 vs $1,570)
Cons
Violent crime (897.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $347,100
Median income trails Brandon by $9,833/yr
Property crime (2897.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Brandon
Median Income
$9,833
$71,156 vs $61,323/yr
Brandon
Violent Crime
85% lower
131.1 vs 897.1 per 100k
Brandon
Median Home Value
$81k less
$266,400 vs $347,100
Brandon
Unemployment
3.0 pp lower
4.6% vs 7.6% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | San Bernardino, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 ✓ Lower | $347,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High | $1,319 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 ✓ Higher | $61,323 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 7.6%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 5.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 197⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 236⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 138⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C (81) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% ✓ Higher | 12.8% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 72.5% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | San Bernardino City Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 66.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F | 95.4°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 21.6" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 | 221,041 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 31.2 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% ✓ Higher | 48.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 27.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 9.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs San Bernardino's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Brandon is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Brandon leads 17 of 22 categories. Brandon wins 17 and San Bernardino 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 San Bernardino or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $347,100 median home), income ($71,156 vs $61,323), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and San Bernardino, CA are about 2,105 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.