Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
San Mateo, CA
🏆 Brandon leads 14 of 22 categories
Brandon
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,156
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923 ✓ Larger
San Mateo
California
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
118.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$149,152 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
64
Population
104,165
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
Homes cost $1243k less ($266,400 vs $1,508,900)
Rent averages $1401/mo less ($1,570 vs $2,971)
46% less violent crime than San Mateo
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
15% cheaper overall cost of living than San Mateo
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 58°F
Cons
Median income trails San Mateo by $77,996/yr
San Mateo, CA
Pros
Households earn $77,996 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (243.2 vs 380/100k)
More college-educated — 58.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cooler summers — July highs near 73°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $1,508,900
Higher rents — median is $2,971/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 118.2)
Cost of living runs 15% higher than Brandon
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 118.2 (100 = US avg)
Brandon
Violent Crime
46% lower
131.1 vs 243.2 per 100k
Brandon
Median Home Value
$1243k less
$266,400 vs $1,508,900
Brandon
Summer Heat
21.2°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 72.6°F
San Mateo
Median Income
$77,996
$149,152 vs $71,156/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | San Mateo, 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 | $1,508,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,971⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 | $149,152 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter | 28.5 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% | 19.9% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 74 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 64 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 90 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | A- (113) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 21.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% | 58.2% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 91.5% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | San Mateo-Foster City |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 58.0°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 72.6°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 19.3" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 ✓ Larger | 104,165 |
| Median Age | 37.2 | 38.1 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% ✓ Higher | 51.6% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% ✓ More | 19.6% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 16.4% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs San Mateo's 118.2 (US average = 100).
Brandon is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Brandon leads 14 of 22 categories. Brandon wins 14 and San Mateo wins 8. 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 Mateo or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $1,508,900 median home), income ($71,156 vs $149,152), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and San Mateo, CA are about 2,399 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.