Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Tempe, AZ
🏆 Tempe leads 12 of 22 categories
Brandon
Florida
10
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,156
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923
Tempe
Arizona
12
wins
Cost of Living Index
99.9 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$72,022 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
124⚠ High
Population
181,005 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
72% less violent crime than Tempe
Homes cost $116k less ($266,400 vs $382,100)
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.1 pts lower (4.6%)
Cooler summers — July highs near 94°F vs 106°F
Cons
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Higher rents — median is $1,570/mo
Cost of living runs 4% higher than Tempe
Tempe, AZ
Pros
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
More college-educated — 48.9% hold a bachelor's or higher
Rent averages $98/mo less ($1,472 vs $1,570)
Smaller class sizes — 14.3:1 student-teacher ratio
4% cheaper overall cost of living than Brandon
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $382,100
Violent crime (470.3/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Property crime (2893.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Higher unemployment (5.7% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Violent Crime
72% lower
131.1 vs 470.3 per 100k
Brandon
Median Home Value
$116k less
$266,400 vs $382,100
Brandon
Unemployment
1.1 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.7% unemployment
Tempe
Cost of Living
4% cheaper
COL index 99.9 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Tempe
Median Income
$866
$72,022 vs $71,156/yr
Tempe
Summer Heat
12.1°F warmer
July avg high 105.9°F vs 93.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Tempe, AZ |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 99.9 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 ✓ Lower | $382,100⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High | $1,472⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 | $72,022 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.7%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 21.5 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% | 16.8% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 129⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 124⚠ 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) | A (125) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 14.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% | 48.9% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% | 93.7% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Tempe School District (4258) |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 70.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F | 105.9°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 8.5" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 | 181,005 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 29.7 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% ✓ Higher | 40.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% ✓ More | 14.4% |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 10.6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Tempe's 99.9 (US average = 100).
Tempe is 4% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Tempe leads 12 of 22 categories. Brandon wins 10 and Tempe wins 12. 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 Tempe or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $382,100 median home), income ($71,156 vs $72,022), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Tempe, AZ are about 1,795 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.