Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Tyler, TX
🏆 Brandon leads 14 of 23 categories
Brandon
Florida
14
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High
Median Household Income
$71,156 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923 ✓ Larger
Tyler
Texas
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
92.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$63,056
Violent Crime Index
103⚠ High
Population
106,440
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
66% less violent crime than Tyler
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 0.7 pts lower (4.6%)
Households earn $8,100 more per year on average
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 58°F
Cons
Higher rents — median is $1,570/mo
Cost of living runs 11% higher than Tyler
Longer commutes — 28.0 min average each way
Tyler, TX
Pros
Rent averages $457/mo less ($1,113 vs $1,570)
Homes cost $61k less ($205,200 vs $266,400)
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
11% cheaper overall cost of living than Brandon
Living costs sit below the national average (index 92.4)
Smaller class sizes — 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Cons
Median income trails Brandon by $8,100/yr
Higher unemployment (5.3% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Median Income
$8,100
$71,156 vs $63,056/yr
Brandon
Violent Crime
66% lower
131.1 vs 391.2 per 100k
Brandon
Unemployment
0.7 pp lower
4.6% vs 5.3% unemployment
Tyler
Cost of Living
11% cheaper
COL index 92.4 vs 103.4 (100 = US avg)
Tyler
Median Home Value
$61k less
$205,200 vs $266,400
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Tyler, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.4⚠ High | 92.4 ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $266,400 | $205,200 ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High | $1,113 ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 ✓ Higher | $63,056 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 5.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 20.6 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 6.1% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 98 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 103⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 91 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) | B (97) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 | 15.3:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% ✓ Higher | 31.1% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 87.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | TYLER ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 57.9°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 93.1°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 47.7" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" ✓ Less | 0.5" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 ✓ Larger | 106,440 |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% ✓ Higher | 54.9% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 22.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% | 16.3% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Tyler's 92.4 (US average = 100).
Tyler is 11% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Brandon leads 14 of 23 categories. Brandon wins 14 and Tyler 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 Tyler or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $205,200 median home), income ($71,156 vs $63,056), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Tyler, TX are about 833 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.