Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
San Marcos, CA
🏆 Brandon leads 13 of 22 categories
Brandon
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,156
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923 ✓ Larger
San Marcos
California
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$99,413 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
59
Population
94,360
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
Homes cost $462k less ($266,400 vs $728,800)
41% less violent crime than San Marcos
Rent averages $494/mo less ($1,570 vs $2,064)
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
8% cheaper overall cost of living than San Marcos
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 69°F
Cons
Median income trails San Marcos by $28,257/yr
San Marcos, CA
Pros
Households earn $28,257 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (222.4 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 41.5% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 87°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $728,800
Higher rents — median is $2,064/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Cost of living runs 8% higher than Brandon
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Brandon
Violent Crime
41% lower
131.1 vs 222.4 per 100k
Brandon
Median Home Value
$462k less
$266,400 vs $728,800
Brandon
Summer Heat
6.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 87.2°F
San Marcos
Median Income
$28,257
$99,413 vs $71,156/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | San Marcos, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 ✓ Lower | $728,800⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,064⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 | $99,413 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High | 4.2%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 26.7 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% | 16.2% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 48 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 59 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 31 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B (100) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.5:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% | 41.5% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 87.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | San Marcos Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 68.8°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 87.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 13.9" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 ✓ Larger | 94,360 |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 35.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% | 61.9% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 25.8% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 13.0% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs San Marcos's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Brandon is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Brandon leads 13 of 22 categories. Brandon wins 13 and San Marcos 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 San Marcos or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $728,800 median home), income ($71,156 vs $99,413), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and San Marcos, CA are about 2,096 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.