Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Springfield, MO
🏆 Brandon leads 13 of 23 categories
Brandon
Florida
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,156 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923
Springfield
Missouri
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
89.3 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$43,450
Violent Crime Index
310⚠ High
Population
168,873 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
89% less violent crime than Springfield
Households earn $27,706 more per year on average
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 43°F
More college-educated — 34.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,570/mo
Cost of living runs 14% higher than Springfield
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Springfield, MO
Pros
Homes cost $120k less ($146,400 vs $266,400)
Rent averages $692/mo less ($878 vs $1,570)
Commutes run 10 min shorter each way
14% cheaper overall cost of living than Brandon
Living costs sit below the national average (index 89.3)
Cooler summers — July highs near 88°F vs 94°F
Cons
Median income trails Brandon by $27,706/yr
Violent crime (1178.1/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (4184.7/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Median Income
$27,706
$71,156 vs $43,450/yr
Brandon
Violent Crime
89% lower
131.1 vs 1178.1 per 100k
Brandon
Summer Heat
5.6°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 88.2°F
Springfield
Cost of Living
14% cheaper
COL index 89.3 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Springfield
Median Home Value
$120k less
$146,400 vs $266,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Springfield, MO |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 89.3 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 | $146,400 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High | $878 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 ✓ Higher | $43,450 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 4.8%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 18.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 7.5% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 266⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 310⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 199⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B+ (105) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 13.9:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% ✓ Higher | 30.0% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 91.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | SPRINGFIELD R-XII |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 43.4°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 88.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 46.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 13.7" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 | 168,873 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 33.3 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% ✓ Higher | 42.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% ✓ More | 17.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 15.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Springfield's 89.3 (US average = 100).
Springfield is 14% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brandon leads 13 of 23 categories. Brandon wins 13 and Springfield wins 10. 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 Springfield or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $146,400 median home), income ($71,156 vs $43,450), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Springfield, MO are about 904 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.