Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Brandon, FL
VS
Vista, CA
🏆 Brandon leads 18 of 22 categories
Brandon
Florida
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.4⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$71,156
Violent Crime Index
35 ✓ Safer
Population
114,923 ✓ Larger
Vista
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$88,715 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
83
Population
98,392
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Brandon, FL
Pros
Homes cost $357k less ($266,400 vs $622,900)
59% less violent crime than Vista
Rent averages $432/mo less ($1,570 vs $2,002)
Violent crime is well below the national average (131.1 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.7 pts lower (4.6%)
More college-educated — 34.0% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Median income trails Vista by $17,559/yr
Vista, CA
Pros
Households earn $17,559 more per year on average
Cooler summers — July highs near 79°F vs 94°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $622,900
Higher rents — median is $2,002/mo
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (6.3% vs 4.6%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Brandon
Cost of Living
8% cheaper
COL index 103.4 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Brandon
Violent Crime
59% lower
131.1 vs 316.4 per 100k
Brandon
Median Home Value
$357k less
$266,400 vs $622,900
Brandon
Unemployment
1.7 pp lower
4.6% vs 6.3% unemployment
Brandon
Summer Heat
14.9°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 78.9°F
Vista
Median Income
$17,559
$88,715 vs $71,156/yr
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Brandon, FL | Vista, 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 | $622,900⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,570⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,002⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $71,156 | $88,715 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.6%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.3%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 28.0 min⚠ High | 27.1 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 13.9% ✓ Higher | 11.8% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 29 ✓ Safer | 66 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 35 ✓ Safer | 83 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 21 ✓ Safer | 41 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B- (96) ✓ Better | C+ (87) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 19.7:1 ✓ Smaller | 20.7:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 34.0% ✓ Higher | 27.2% |
| High School or Higher | 90.8% ✓ Higher | 82.1% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | HILLSBOROUGH | Vista Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 74.8°F ✓ Warmer | 65.6°F |
| Avg High — July | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer | 78.9°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 55.1" | 13.2" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 114,923 ✓ Larger | 98,392 |
| Median Age | 37.2 ✓ Older | 34.9 |
| Homeownership Rate | 55.1% ✓ Higher | 49.4% |
| Under 18 | 19.9% | 23.9% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 14.2% ✓ More | 11.9% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandon's cost of living index is 103.4 vs Vista's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Brandon is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Brandon leads 18 of 22 categories. Brandon wins 18 and Vista wins 4. 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 Vista or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($266,400 vs $622,900 median home), income ($71,156 vs $88,715), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Brandon, FL and Vista, CA are about 2,100 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.